The US State Department on Saturday ordered some employees of its embassy in Beirut and their families to leave Lebanon amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following Israel's assassination of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

“Employees of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut are prohibited from personal travel without prior authorization. Additional travel restrictions may be imposed on U.S. Embassy security personnel without prior notice due to increased security concerns or threats,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement.