The British government has updated its travel guidance for Lebanon, sharply warning that travel to many parts of the country is unsafe and urging citizens to reconsider plans that are not essential. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) detailed specific neighbourhoods and regions where travel is either strongly discouraged or should be avoided entirely due to ongoing security risks. 

The advisory, reviewed on December 16, warns that travel insurance may be invalidated if people travel against official guidance, and that consular support for UK nationals in restricted areas may be severely limited. 

Beirut and Mount Lebanon

The FCDO advises against all travel to a number of areas in the southern suburbs of Beirut, excluding Route 51 from central Beirut to and past Rafic Hariri International Airport. These include: 

• Tariq el Jdideh and surrounding areas

• Ghobeiry and adjacent zones

• Chiyah (south and west of the Rizkallah Semaan road)

• Haret Hraik

• Burj Al Barajneh

• Mraije

• Laylaki

• Areas west of Camille Chamoun Boulevard south of Forn el Chebbak down to the Beirut airport road

The advisory also notes that the area of Bir Hassan is to be avoided, with limited exceptions around public institutions such as the Rafiq Hariri hospital and the Ministry of Public Health. 

In the broader Mount Lebanon Governorate, the FCDO recommends only essential travel to the area south of a line stretching from Khiam El Damour toward the Mediterranean coastline through Mghayreh, Kfar Him, Deir El Qamar, Maaser Beit Ed Dine, Batloun, Barouk and Maaser El Chouf up to where the Barouk–Joub Jannine road meets the Bekaa boundary. 

South and Nabatiyeh Governorates

Travel is advised against entirely in the following areas: 

• All areas south of the Litani River up to the Nabatiyeh Governorate border, including the cities of Tyre, Rachidiyeh and Naqoura

• The Governorate of Nabatiyeh

• The District of Jezzine

Elsewhere in the South Governorate north of the Litani, travel is discouraged except for essential purposes. 

Bekaa Governorate

The FCDO warns against all travel to parts of the Bekaa that lie east of (but not including) the Rachaiya–Marjaayoun Road, extending from the Nabatiyeh boundary along major routes including the Masnaa–Rachaiya Road, the Beirut–Damascus International Highway, and through towns such as Bar Elias, Houch Hala and Riyaq — the last located on the boundary with the Baalbek-Hermel Governorate.

Only essential travel is recommended in the Bekaa north and east of the Aintoura–Zahle Road, while the region around Zahle, the areas south and west of this road, and zones north of the Barouk–Joub Jannine road are considered relatively less risky but still not wholly exempt from caution. 

Baalbek-Hermel Governorate

Travel is advised against entirely in two main sectors: 

• The area east of and including the Zahle–Baalbek and Baalbek–Qaa Highways, reaching northward past Baalbek, through Makneh and Laboueh up to the Hermel–Ras Baalbek road

• The area north and east from the junction of the Baalbek–Qaa Highway and Hermel–Ras Baalbek Road up to the boundary with the North Governorate, including Hermel and Zouaitini

Other areas in Baalbek-Hermel are subject to only essential travel guidance. (GOV.UK)

North and Akkar Governorates

The city of Tripoli is explicitly listed as a place where all travel is advised against. 

The FCDO also discourages travel to parts of the North Governorate beyond Tripoli — specifically areas north and east of roads from Bohssas to Ariz via Kousba and Ehden, and north and east of the Ariz–Baalbeck road up to the Baalbek-Hermel boundary — unless travel is essential. 

The Akkar Governorate is listed as an area where all travel is advised against.

Palestinian Refugee Camps

The guidance states that travel is discouraged to all 12 Palestinian refugee camps across the country due to volatility and limited state control over security.