Warden Message

February 13, 2008

On Tuesday, February 12, a senior Hizballah operative, Imad Fayez Mugniyah, was killed in an explosion in Syria.  Mugniyah will reportedly be buried in southern Beirut tomorrow afternoon, February 14, 2008.  The funeral will take place on the same day as a large rally to be held in Martyr's Square in central Beirut to mark the third anniversary of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri.  Given that each event is expected to draw large crowds in a time of political uncertainty, the U.S. Embassy strongly encourages American citizens in Lebanon to limit all but essential travel on February 14.  The U.S. Embassy will be restricting the travel of its personnel for that day and may continue restrictions several days beyond it.  The U.S. Embassy encourages Americans that absolutely need to travel on February 14 to avoid central and southern Beirut if possible, to maintain a heightened level of awareness and to report any suspicious or unusual activity immediately to Lebanese authorities.  U.S. citizens should, as always, maintain a low profile in public.
The U.S. Embassy will remain open; however, the consular section will not perform routine services on February 14.  Americans and non-Americans with appointments for routine consular services have already been contacted and their appointments rescheduled.  If you have made an appointment for February 14 for routine visa or passport services and have not been contacted, please call the Embassy to have your appointment rescheduled.
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.

The U.S. Embassy is located in Awkar, near Antelias, Beirut, Lebanon.  Public access hours for American citizens are by appointment, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. American citizens may request an appointment by e-mailing BeirutACS@state.gov and specifying the service they require or by calling 04 543 600 and asking for the American Citizen Services Section on Mondays or Fridays between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.  However, American citizens who require 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/.