Britain charters a flight to evacuate nationals from Lebanon

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a neighborhood in Beirut’s southern suburb early on October 1, 2024. Agence France-Presse

LONDON — Britain said Monday it has chartered a commercial flight for its nationals wishing to evacuate Lebanon, where Israel is at war with militant group Hezbollah.

The flight will depart from Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport on Wednesday, with further flights dependent on demand.

“The situation in Lebanon is volatile and has potential to deteriorate quickly,” Foreign Secretary David Lammy said.

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“The safety of British nationals in Lebanon continues to be our utmost priority,” he said, according to a statement from his office.

The government said it would prioritise “vulnerable British nationals” for the flight.

Last week, London announced the deployment of 700 soldiers to Cyprus to prepare for a possible evacuation of its citizens from Lebanon, while many airlines have suspended flights to and from Beirut.

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Israel has declared a military zone in parts of its northern border with Lebanon and has started ground raids in the country’s south, backed by airstrikes and artillery.

Hezbollah, whose leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli strike on Friday, vowed on Monday to continue the fight against Israel, saying it is ready for a ground operation.