As governments around the world begin making emergency plans to evacuate their citizens, Britain has arranged for chartered flights from Lebanon for Britons to leave the country as violence escalates in the region. This comes amid escalating violence in the region.
of England The flight was scheduled to depart from Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport on Wednesday. Foreign Minister David Lamy said the situation in Lebanon was “unstable” and “could deteriorate rapidly”.
British nationals, their spouses, partners and children under 18 are eligible to fly, with priority given to vulnerable people. There are 5,000 single and dual British nationals in Lebanon, including their immediate family members, and the government said it was working on “all contingency options”.
Israel confirmed early Tuesday that it had launched a “limited, localized and targeted” ground operation against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, sealing off communities along its northern border. At least 95 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Monday, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said.
Mr Lamy said: “The situation in Lebanon is unstable and could deteriorate rapidly. The safety of British people in Lebanon remains our top priority. That is why the UK Government will support those who wish to leave. We are arranging a charter flight for this purpose.It is important to evacuate now as further evacuation may not be guaranteed.”
He chaired a cabinet meeting of the Cobra Emergency Committee on Monday to discuss the conflict.
British military assets are deployed in Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean in case evacuation is needed, but ministers and officials have stressed that British nationals should leave immediately.
The UK has joined several other countries in developing arrangements and contingency plans to evacuate their citizens. Cyprus, the EU member state closest to the Middle East, has processed around 60,000 people fleeing the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel war and is likely to become a major center of evacuation. Neighboring Türkiye also provides facilities.
of us The government has already ordered the deployment of dozens of troops to Cyprus to help prepare for scenarios including the evacuation of Americans from Lebanon.
Most contingency planning appears to be done by sea. Lebanon borders Israel and Syria, making land evacuation nearly impossible, and larger groups could be moved, but that would depend on the security situation, a person familiar with the process told Reuters told. Cyprus is approximately 10 hours by sea and 40 minutes by plane from Beirut.
Germany A joint statement from the foreign and defense ministries announced on Monday that non-essential staff, families of embassy staff and medically vulnerable German nationals would be evacuated from Lebanon and assistance would be provided to those attempting to leave.
A German Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Germans in the region could leave the country on commercial flights through airports that are still open.
FranceLebanon, which has urged citizens not to travel to Lebanon, has been making evacuation plans for months but has not issued an evacuation order. Current contingency plans are focused on Cyprus and Beirut airport, but evacuation via Turkey is also being discussed. France has warships in the area and a helicopter carrier in the southern French town of Toulon, but travel to the area takes several days.
authorities Australia and Canada An emergency response plan including sea evacuation is in place. Australia has called on an estimated 15,000 Lebanese nationals to leave the country while Beirut airport remains open. According to reports from Canada, it plans to work with Australia on a plan to contract a merchant ship to transport 1,000 people a day, the Toronto Star reported.
a Bulgarian A government plane returned to Sofia carrying 89 people who had been evacuated from Lebanon. Prime Minister Dimitar Grafchev, who received the group at Sofia airport on Monday, said the government was discussing all options for further evacuation. According to Deputy Foreign Minister Elena Shekeretova, 160 of the approximately 400 Bulgarians living in Lebanon have requested evacuation.
of greek The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged citizens to leave Lebanon and avoid traveling to the country. A frigate is on standby in case support is needed.
meanwhile Italy Officials told Reuters that unnecessary diplomatic staff had been cut and security personnel at the embassy in Beirut had been increased. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has repeatedly urged people to leave the country and sought guarantees from Israel about the safety of Italian soldiers engaged in peacekeeping operations in the region.
portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has advised against traveling to Lebanon. The country said it had plans to work with EU member states to evacuate Portuguese residents there.
Prime Minister Lamy said this early on Monday. “We will do everything we can to help people evacuate and have secured seats on a commercial aircraft flying tomorrow for British nationals to evacuate.”
“As the situation on the ground is changing rapidly, I urge them to withdraw.”
He added: “And of course we will do everything we can to protect the British people, but we have plans in place to do that, but if the situation escalates to a major incident, what are the circumstances and what will happen? It is impossible to predict whether it will be able to do so at such speed.” Over the next few hours and days. ”
Lamy said he had spoken to his US counterpart, Antony Blinken, and agreed that “the best way forward is an immediate ceasefire.”
Around 15 spaces were reserved for Brits on the flight arriving on Sunday, and a further 40 seats are said to have been reserved for the flight scheduled to depart on Tuesday.
