BERLIN

Germany has sent a military aircraft to Lebanon on Monday to bring back some of its citizens amid escalating tensions in the region.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said an A321 military transport aircraft will fly out family members of the diplomatic staff, non-essential staff, and German citizens with medical problem.

The ministry renewed its advisory urging all German citizens to leave Lebanon, and said its Beirut embassy will provide assistance to those who would like to leave the country in the coming days via commercial flights or other means.

Germany announced on Saturday that it decided to reduce staff at its diplomatic missions in Beirut, Tel Aviv and Ramallah due to the volatile and unpredictable security situation in the region.

Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalated to an all-time high on Saturday after the latest Israeli strikes in Beirut killed Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah and top commanders.