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.jpg) Turkey has called on its citizens to leave Lebanon following abduction of two Turkish Airlines pilots by armed men in Beirut.Separately, it has decided to remove its troops from the UNIFIL peacekeeping forces operating in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese media.
Two Turkish pilots working for Turkish Airlines were kidnapped by armed men who intercepted their bus early on Friday morning.
“Given the current situation it is vital that our citizens avoid all travel to Lebanon,” a foreign ministry online statement said on Saturday.
“We suggest that citizens who are still in Lebanon return to Turkey if they can, or if they have to remain, to take all measures to ensure their personal safety and be vigilant,” the statement added.
Turkey’s foreign ministry also expressed its expectation for the Lebanese government to take “all necessary measures” to ensure the safety of Turkish citizens in the country.
UNIFIL statement
Lebanese media reported that Turkey had decided to pull back the majority of its peacekeeping forces in the country.
Turkey has called on its citizens to leave Lebanon following abduction of two Turkish Airlines pilots by armed men in Beirut.
Separately, it has decided to remove its troops from the UNIFIL peacekeeping forces operating in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese media.
Two Turkish pilots working for Turkish Airlines were kidnapped by armed men who intercepted their bus early on Friday morning.
“Given the current situation it is vital that our citizens avoid all travel to Lebanon,” a foreign ministry online statement said on Saturday.
“We suggest that citizens who are still in Lebanon return to Turkey if they can, or if they have to remain, to take all measures to ensure their personal safety and be vigilant,” the statement added.
Turkey’s foreign ministry also expressed its expectation for the Lebanese government to take “all necessary measures” to ensure the safety of Turkish citizens in the country.
UNIFIL statement
Lebanese media reported that Turkey had decided to pull back the majority of its peacekeeping forces in the country.
A representative for the families of the kidnapped Lebanese has denied any involvement in the abduction of the Turkish pilots.
There have been several failed rounds of negotiations to free the Lebanese.
The war in Syria frequently spills over into neighboring Lebanon.
The Turkish government is a staunch supporter of the Syrian opposition.
(Source: Al Jazeera and Agencies)
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