UK Government charters flight for Britons in Lebanon

The UK Government has chartered a flight out of Lebanon for Britons wanting to leave as Israel said it had begun a “limited, localised” operation in the southern part of the country.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the situation in Lebanon as “volatile” and with the “potential to deteriorate quickly” as the flight, due to leave Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Wednesday, was confirmed.

Earlier, Mr Lammy reiterated calls for Britons in Lebanon to leave and said the Government will do “all that we can” to assist people in fleeing.

Hours after Mr Lammy’s announcement, the Israeli military said it had begun a “limited, localised” operation against its Hezbollah targets in the region.

In a brief announcement released in the early hours of Tuesday morning by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), the military said it was targeting Hezbollah in areas close to the border between the two nations.

The IDF added that air force and artillery units were carrying out attacks to support forces on the ground.

“A few hours ago, the IDF began limited, localised and targeted ground raids,” it said.

“These targets are located in villages close to the border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel.”

The IDF gave no details as to how long the operation in southern Lebanon would last, but it did say its army had been training and preparing to cross the border to fight for months.

British nationals and their spouses, partners and children under 18 are eligible for the UK flight, and those who are vulnerable will be prioritised.

Mr Lammy said: “The situation in Lebanon is volatile and has potential to deteriorate quickly.

“The safety of British nationals in Lebanon continues to be our utmost priority. That’s why the UK Government is chartering a flight to help those wanting to leave. It is vital that you leave now as further evacuation may not be guaranteed.”

Speaking to broadcasters earlier on Monday evening, Mr Lammy said: “We will do all that we can to assist people to get out and we have secured places on commercial flights that are flying tomorrow so that UK nationals can get out.

“I urge them to leave because the situation on the ground is fast-moving.”

He added: “And of course, whilst we will do everything we can to protect British nationals – and those plans are in place to do so – we cannot anticipate the circumstances and the speed with which we could do that if things escalate in a major way over the coming hours and days.”

Mr Lammy chaired a ministerial meeting of the Cobra emergency committee on Monday to discuss the crisis.

There are an estimated 5,000 British citizens in Lebanon and the Government says it is working on “all contingency options”.

British military assets have been deployed to Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean in case an evacuation is required, although ministers and officials have stressed that Britons should leave immediately.

On Monday, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Sir Keir Starmer has been “very, very clear” that British nationals “should leave now, particularly whilst commercial flights are still available”.

The spokesman told reporters: “We’re doing everything we can to work with commercial airlines to maximise capacity because we want people to leave, and I understand that there have been extra Middle East Airlines flights leaving Lebanon over the weekend, another scheduled for Tuesday, and we have secured seats for British nationals on those flights.”

It is understood around 15 spaces for British nationals were secured on a flight which arrived on Sunday, and a further 40 on the flight due to leave on Tuesday.

The spokesman said the focus is on “securing extra spaces on commercial flights for those who do want to leave and reiterating our calls for those to leave and to register their presence with us and book the first available flights”.

Meanwhile, the families of Israeli hostages kidnapped on October 7 have said the UK Government “must do more” to help bring them home.

Speaking at a press conference, relatives said a deal must be struck urgently with Hamas to bring people home.

During a meeting with Sir Keir and Mr Lammy on Monday, the Prime Minister agreed that the hostages must be freed and returned immediately, the conference was told.

Sharone Lifschitz, whose parents Yocheved and Oded Lifschitz were kidnapped, said she felt “encouraged” by the meeting, but urged the Government to do more.

“They listened carefully to what we said,” she said. “But I think the British Government can and should do more.

“They must treat (the hostages) as if they are their own.”

Published: 01/10/2024 by Radio NewsHub