Around 180 South Koreans enter Israel for religious event amid escalating war

Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike on Zibqin in Lebanon, Aug. 25. AFP-Yonhap

About 180 Korean nationals have entered Israel to attend a religious event, sources said Monday, amid escalating tensions in the region following a series of missile and air strikes exchanged between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Korea’s diplomatic mission in Israel has learned of their arrival, and it is strongly urging them to leave the country through direct and indirect channels, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.

The government said it is doing a round-the-clock check on the movements of Koreans staying in the Middle East to ensure their safety and has strongly recommended they leave the region as soon as possible.

Tensions have escalated as the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched massive rocket and drone attacks at Israel on Sunday, with Israel hitting back with dozens of air strikes that it says were carried out to prevent a wider attack.

The number of Koreans in Israel rose to 680 from 500 due to the latest arrival of the 180 people, the ministry said. Around 100 South Koreans are currently in Iran, with 90 others in Lebanon.

No reports of harm to Koreans or damage to their properties have been received, the foreign ministry said. (Yonhap)