UK Government Organises Flights for British Nationals to Leave Lebanon
The UK government has arranged flights to help British citizens leave Lebanon due to rising violence in the Middle East. Concerns have grown after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in Israeli airstrikes on Beirut over the weekend.
A commercial flight will take off from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Wednesday. British citizens and their spouses, partners, and children under 18 will be prioritized. The Foreign Office shared that this flight will focus on vulnerable people.
The situation in Lebanon Getting Worse
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that the situation in Lebanon is becoming dangerous and could get worse quickly. He stressed that the safety of British people in Lebanon is the UK government’s top priority.
He urged British nationals to leave immediately, warning that future evacuation flights might not be possible. Although the government pays to arrange the flight, passengers must pay £350 for their seats.
The government also mentioned that regular commercial flights are still running and that it is working with partners to ensure enough seats for British nationals to leave Lebanon safely.
Middle East Tensions Rising
The death of Hassan Nasrallah has raised fears of increased violence in the region. Hezbollah, which Iran supports, said it is ready to fight if Israel starts a ground invasion, raising concerns of a full-scale war.
Foreign Secretary Lammy explained that the government has set up a quick response team to help around 5,000 British nationals currently in Lebanon. There are 700 British troops stationed in Cyprus, and seats have been reserved on commercial flights to bring people home.
Act Quickly to Leave
Lammy urged anyone wanting to leave to use this opportunity immediately, saying that the government might be unable to help if the situation worsens.
He advised British nationals to take the warnings seriously and leave while they still can, as the situation in Lebanon is changing rapidly.
Military Action Possible
It was reported that Israeli special forces are conducting operations in Lebanon in preparation for a possible ground assault. On Monday night, heavy artillery was fired in border towns in southern Lebanon following a warning from Israel’s defense minister that the next phase of the war with Hezbollah could start soon.
David Lammy also mentioned that he had spoken with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. They both expressed concerns about the growing tensions and urged both sides to de-escalate.
Urging Iran to Stay Calm
Lammy said he met with the Iranian foreign minister last week and urged Iran to remain calm. When asked if he agreed with US President Joe Biden’s comment that Nasrallah’s killing was “justice,” Lammy responded that while he does not mourn the death of a terrorist leader, he is saddened by the loss of civilian lives in the ongoing conflict.
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