Vietnam is gravely concerned about recent developments in the Middle East and calls on relevant parties to cease conflicts and resolve differences peacefully through dialogue in line with international law, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.

The ministry's spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang released the statement at a regular press meeting in Hanoi in reply to reporters’ queries on Vietnam’s response to the escalating tension in the Middle East, especially following the deadly detonation of thousands of pagers in some areas of Lebanon.

Vietnam is closely monitoring recent developments in the region and urges all parties to exercise restraint, stop the conflicts, promote dialogue, and resolve differences peacefully in line with international law and the United Nations Charter, for the well-being of the people and for peace and stability in the region and the world, Hang said.

Citing the latest reports from Vietnamese diplomatic missions in Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, and Israel, the spokesperson said Vietnamese citizens in the Middle East remain in safe conditions.

The diplomat suggested Vietnamese citizens in these countries regularly follow updated information and instructions from local authorities, as well as warnings from the ministry and the diplomatic missions there.

Implementing the direction of the ministry, these diplomatic missions will continue to closely coordinate with local authorities to monitor the regional situation and actively deploy citizen protection plans, including evacuating those in dangerous areas, when necessary, the spokeswoman added. 

Eleven Vietnamese nationals are living in Lebanon, mainly in Beirut and adjacent areas, the Vietnam Government Portal cited the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt, which is concurrently responsible for Lebanon.

The embassy said it is continuing to monitor the situation and maintain communication with the Vietnamese citizens to support them whenever needed.

For assistance, citizens should contact the Vietnamese Embassies in Egypt, Iran, and Israel via the hotlines +201 02 613 9869, +98 21 224 11670, and +972 50 818 6116, respectively, or the ministry’s Consular Department via +84 981 84 84 84, Hang advised.

According to Reuters, at least nine people were killed and nearly 3,000 injured when pagers used by Iran-backed Hezbollah members detonated simultaneously across Lebanon on Tuesday.

Explosives inside the devices were planted by Israel’s Mossad spy agency, Reuters cited a senior Lebanese security source and another source.

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