NNA - South Korea said on Tuesday it will issue a ban on its citizens travelling to the border areas of Israel and Lebanon after advising them to leave the countries amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The foreign ministry said the ban will start from Wednesday in areas near the Blue Line, referring to a demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel where parts of the international border are disputed.

The ministry also "strongly advised" its nationals in Lebanon and Israel to leave the countries as soon as possible.

A temporary advisory urging against travel to Iran was also set to be issued, the ministry said in a statement.

The travel advisory was issued after a commander of the Iran-aligned Lebanese group Hezbollah and the head of the political wing of Hamas, the group that runs the Gaza Strip, were killed, Lee Jae-woong, a ministry spokesperson said.--Reuters

======================R.H.