UK arranges chartered flight for nationals to leave Lebanon

The UK government has arranged a chartered flight to evacuate British nationals from Lebanon as tensions in the region escalate.

This announcement comes after fresh Israeli airstrikes hit the capital, Beirut, and a localized ground operation targeting Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged British citizens to take advantage of the evacuation flight due to the volatile and deteriorating situation.

The chartered flight is scheduled to depart from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Wednesday.

British nationals, their spouses or partners, and children under 18 are eligible, with vulnerable individuals being prioritized.

The cost of each seat is £350, and any non-British dependents will need a UK visa valid for at least six months to board.

The UK Foreign Office has emphasized that further flights depend on demand and the evolving security conditions on the ground.

Lammy reiterated the government's primary focus on the safety of British nationals, advising immediate departure, as the ability to evacuate may become more difficult as the conflict escalates.

In recent weeks, between 4,000 and 6,000 British citizens were believed to be in Lebanon, but many have faced challenges finding commercial flights out of the country, as most airlines have halted operations due to the conflict.

Israel's military campaign has targeted Hezbollah positions in Lebanon after the militant group escalated rocket fire in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Victoria Lupton, a British national residing in Lebanon, shared her ordeal of trying to leave the country with her family. Although offered a place on the government-chartered flight, she had already booked a flight to Athens and decided to stick with her original plan, citing the overwhelming stress and uncertainty of the situation.

As Israeli airstrikes continue and Hezbollah retaliates, over 1,000 people in Lebanon have been killed, and up to a million displaced, according to local officials.

Both Lammy and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have called for de-escalation, and the UK government continues to maintain contact with Iran, seeking restraint from all parties.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has stationed nearly 700 troops in Cyprus, ready to assist with potential evacuations if the situation worsens.

UK nationals have been urged to leave Lebanon immediately, as further military escalations could compromise future evacuation efforts.