The UK government has arranged a commercial flight to evacuate British nationals from Lebanon, as tensions in the region escalate due to fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced the initiative, urging British citizens to leave the volatile area, warning that the situation could “deteriorate quickly.”
The chartered flight is set to depart from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Wednesday. British citizens, along with their spouses or partners and children under 18, are eligible to board the plane, with priority given to vulnerable individuals. The flight, which comes as Israeli airstrikes hit southern Beirut overnight, will cost passengers £350 per seat.
As many as 6,000 British nationals are believed to be in Lebanon. The Foreign Office emphasized that future flights would depend on the demand and the security situation.
“The safety of British nationals in Lebanon continues to be our utmost priority,” Lammy stated, reiterating the need for citizens to leave. The Foreign Office also confirmed that non-British dependants of UK citizens must hold a visa for at least six months to enter the UK.
The UK Ministry of Defence has stationed nearly 700 troops in nearby Cyprus in preparation for a possible evacuation, as the British government continues to advise against all travel to Lebanon.
This evacuation effort comes amid a broader regional escalation following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, which led to Israeli retaliatory strikes and an ongoing military campaign. Sporadic clashes between Israel and Hezbollah began on October 8 and have since intensified, with Hezbollah launching over 8,000 rockets into northern Israel and conducting additional attacks with anti-tank missiles and explosive drones.
Both the UK and the US have called for de-escalation, with Lammy reiterating the need for a 21-day ceasefire to encourage a political solution. Meanwhile, Israel has begun a “limited, localized and targeted” ground operation in southern Lebanon, heightening concerns over the conflict’s spread.
Lebanese officials report that over 1,000 people have been killed and as many as one million displaced by the violence. The conflict has also displaced 60,000 Israelis, with the Israeli military stating its objective is to allow them to return to their homes.
As the situation worsens, the UK continues to coordinate evacuation plans, while diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation remain ongoing.