Amid the ongoing Israeli military strikes in Lebanon, British nationals are struggling to find evacuation flights out of the country. Dan Harper, his wife, and two children, who reside in a rural part of Beirut, have attempted several times to contact the UK embassy in Lebanon for assistance; however, their calls went unanswered. Harper stated that the UK government’s messaging to British citizens has been clear: “Brits leave now.” However, the commercial flights out of Beirut are unavailable, leaving the family with no options to leave the country.
There are believed to be approximately 6,000 UK nationals residing in Lebanon, some of whom have secured the last remaining seats on departing commercial flights. International airlines, however, have ceased incoming and outgoing flights to the only commercial airport in the country, Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport. This has left only Middle East Airlines, Iraqi Airways, and Iran Air operational. In light of the situation, some British nationals have attempted to leave via the sea route, with one student interviewed by the BBC stating that she would depart via boat from Tripoli to Turkey.
Harper added that his family is considering evacuating via sea if the situation escalates or if strikes occur near their current location. While his family is situated in a relatively safe area, Harper is concerned about his friends in the south, where the Israeli army’s strikes have inflicted considerable damage. Israel and Hezbollah’s cross-border attacks have resulted in tens of thousands of people being displaced on both sides, with more than 630 people dead and over 1,600 injured.
Reports suggest Israel may consider a ground invasion in the coming days, and while the UK government has not stated its evacuation plans, it has sent about 700 additional military personnel to Cyprus in case of an emergency evacuation. The UK has a significant military presence in close proximity to Lebanon, including RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, two Royal Navy ships, and standby planes and helicopters. The Foreign Office has stated that the government is preparing for possible scenarios and would provide additional support to British nationals if required
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