Warden Message

July 15, 2008

The Lebanese militant group Hizballah has planned a large rally on July 16 in the southern Beirut neighborhood of Dayia to celebrate the Hizballah/Israel prisoner swap. The rally, which will include a closed circuit speech by Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah is expected to draw a significant turnout. Other rallies could occur in other Hizballah strongholds in southern Lebanon and the Beka'a Valley while smaller, state-sponsored rallies will occur at Rafik Hariri International Airport (BEY) and the Lebanese border crossing at Naqura. With tensions high between rival factions, the expected celebratory gunfire and large concentrations of Hizballah supporters could spark clashes between rival groups even though the prisoner swap is supported by most Lebanese citizens regardless of their sectarian, communal or political affiliations.

The U.S. Embassy strongly advises that American citizens avoid all areas in which rallies are scheduled to take place on July 16, 2008. Furthermore, Americans should expect delays in and around the Rafik Hariri International Airport due to added security measures to be taken in preparation for the rallies. 

For the latest security information, Americans should regularly monitor the Department's web site at http://travel.state.gov/ where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, including the Travel Warning for Lebanon, and Travel Alerts can be found.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

Americans living or traveling in Lebanon are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/, so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Lebanon.  Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Americans who are already registered are urged to update their registration information.

The U.S. Embassy is located in Awkar, near Antelias, Lebanon.  Public access hours for American citizens are Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. American citizens may e-mail BeirutACS@state.gov if they have questions about services provided by the section; they may also call 04 543 600 and ask for the American Citizen Services Section Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.  Any American citizen in need of emergency services outside of these hours may contact the Embassy by telephone at any time.  The telephone numbers are (961-4) 542-600, 543-600, and fax 544-209. Website: http://lebanon.usembassy.gov.  The Arabic language website is: http://arabic.lebanon.usembassy.gov/.