As the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues to escalate, the UK government has advised British nationals to leave Lebanon immediately. Prime Minister Boris Johnson emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating that it is “very important” for those still in the country to leave now. However, some Britons have reported difficulty in securing flights out of the country, with many international airlines suspending flights to and from Beirut. Middle East Airlines, Iraqi Airways and Iran Air are currently the only companies still operating flights.
Sir Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, echoed the call for British nationals to leave Lebanon, urging them not to wait for an evacuation or contingency plans. While the British government has deployed approximately 700 extra military personnel to Cyprus in case of an emergency evacuation, Sir Keir emphasised the importance of leaving now, as there are still commercial flights available.
Britons in Lebanon have described their difficulties in leaving the country, with many reporting that flights are fully booked or cancelled. Chloe Lewin, a freelance journalist from London, stated that “Keir Starmer’s telling everyone to get out but we can’t.” Isabella Eda Baker, a student who had been studying in Beirut, explained that she was too scared to go to Beirut International Airport and had decided to head to Tripoli in the north of the country before continuing by boat to Turkey.
Meanwhile, Anne Bouji, who has lived in Lebanon for seven years, has opted to stay with her partially paralysed Lebanese husband, who does not have a British passport or visa. Clementine Brown, a British expat in Beirut, described hearing the sound of a bomb around midnight and feeling unsafe in an area of the city considered to be relatively safe.
The situation in the Middle East has been tense since Hamas gunmen attacked Israel in October 2022, with sporadic fighting between Israel and Hezbollah escalating after the attack. Hezbollah, classified as a terrorist organisation in the UK and other countries, has launched over 8,000 rockets at northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israeli airstrikes in response have led to the deaths of 560 people, according to the Lebanese government.
The UK government has warned that the situation in Lebanon remains deeply concerning and that the risk of escalation remains high. Officials note that the UK already has a significant diplomatic and military presence close to Lebanon, including RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and Royal Navy ships, and that contingency plans are in place to provide additional support to British nationals if required
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