American Citizens Are Stranded in Lebanon

A Lebanese Man Surveys the Aftermath of Israeli air strikes in Haret Hreik neighborhood, the southern suburb of Beirut (Flickr).

Thousands of U.S. citizens remain trapped in the crossfire of the Israeli incursion into southern Lebanon that started in early October. Among them was Kamel Ahmad Jawad, a Lebanese-American from Michigan who was killed by an Israeli airstrike. His death is part of a growing trend, as dual citizens and American visitors in Lebanon are increasingly being caught in the escalating violence. 

American citizens in Lebanon have long faced threats of cross-border violence, particularly in the context of tensions between Hezbollah and Israel. Lebanon has a significant population of dual citizens, many of whom maintain close ties to both the U.S. and the region. Past conflicts, such as the 2006 Lebanon War, also saw numerous U.S. citizens caught in the violence, prompting large-scale evacuations organized by the U.S. government. 

The recent violence erupted following a series of escalatory moves between Israel and Iran alongside its proxies, including Hezbollah. Israel’s ground invasion and expanded airstrikes, which the Israeli Defense Forces commenced on October 1, have caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure and resulted in civilian casualties, including American citizens. The U.S. State Department has repeatedly urged citizens to leave Lebanon, but many remain due to family ties, logistical challenges, or personal decisions, putting them at increased risk. ​

The death of Kamel Ahmad Jawad stands out not only due to the tragic circumstances but also because of a brief controversy involving his U.S. citizenship status. In the days after his death, the U.S. State Department initially denied that he was a citizen, misclassifying him as a permanent resident. This error, corrected in the following days after noticeable public and political outcry, has been seen by some as indicating a level of relative indifference from the State Department towards the safety of dual-nationals and U.S. citizens in Lebanon. This sentiment is compounded by the fact that the United States did not arrange any direct complementary evacuation for citizens out of Lebanon, requiring citizens to pay, or use government loans, for their evacuation. The increasing number of American casualties in Lebanon has raised questions about the U.S. government's evacuation policies and response to the crisis. 

Local Lebanese and Arab media have tended to focus on the ways that Israeli military tactics and gaps in American response efforts and diplomacy are endangering U.S. citizens in Lebanon. Internationally, reactions have varied, with some Western media outlets focusing more on Hezbollah's role in provoking the conflict, while others emphasize the disproportionate nature of Israeli retaliatory strikes. 

Public opinion in the U.S. has also become divided, with some supporting Israel's right to defend itself and others, questioning the military strategy of Israel in the face of continued civilian death, calling for an U.S. arms embargo on Israel. As the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel shows little sign of abating, the risk to Americans in the region remains high. The U.S. government has reiterated its calls for its citizens to evacuate, but many remain in Lebanon, and the potential for more casualties looms large.