The UK government has organized a charter flight from Lebanon to help British nationals escape the escalating violence, as announced by Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
He described the situation as “volatile” and warned that it could “deteriorate quickly.” This announcement came just hours before Israel began a “localised and targeted” ground offensive in southern Lebanon.
British nationals, along with their spouses, partners, and children under 18, are eligible to take the flight, with vulnerable individuals being prioritized.
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The flight is set to depart on Wednesday from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, which was hit by Israeli airstrikes the night before.
The UK government will cover the cost of chartering the flight, though passengers will need to pay £350 per seat.
Any non-British dependants will require a visa of at least six months to enter the UK. Lammy emphasized that more flights may be arranged based on demand and the security situation, but warned that guarantees couldn’t be made given the instability.
Speaking earlier, Lammy urged British nationals to leave Lebanon as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies. He noted that the Foreign Office has been advising British nationals to exit Lebanon for months, a message that has been echoed since he took office in July.
The Israeli military, meanwhile, launched airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and warned residents to evacuate.
One British national, Victoria Lupton, described the tense atmosphere in Lebanon. She had already secured a flight to Athens with her family, but expressed the fear and anxiety people are experiencing, recounting sleepless nights and the precautions she took to protect her young daughter from the violence.
The UK government has also deployed nearly 700 troops to Cyprus in preparation for a potential mass evacuation, as tensions in the region continue to escalate.
The conflict, triggered by a Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October, has seen fierce fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.
Israel has stated that its operations aim to allow displaced Israelis to return home, while Hezbollah remains prepared to confront further Israeli action.
Lebanese officials report that more than 1,000 people have been killed in the conflict, with up to a million displaced.
Lammy, along with his US counterpart Antony Blinken, has called for de-escalation and a 21-day ceasefire to pave the way for a political resolution, underscoring that military actions are not the solution.
Amid the violence, British families with relatives in Gaza and Israel have expressed frustration with the UK government’s response, calling for more decisive action to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
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