The US embassy in Lebanon urged its citizens on Saturday to leave the country on “any ticket available,” citing fears of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah and a broader regional conflict.
Despite flight suspensions and cancellations, the embassy’s statement emphasized that “commercial transportation options to leave Lebanon remain available.” They encouraged those wishing to depart Lebanon to book any ticket available, even if it does not depart immediately or follow their preferred route.
The UK government also urged its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately. The foreign ministry advised British nationals to depart the Middle Eastern country “now while commercial options remain available.” Foreign Minister David Lammy warned, “Tensions are high, and the situation could deteriorate rapidly.”
To support Britons in Lebanon, the Foreign Office announced it is “strengthening” its support by deploying “border force, consular officials, and military personnel to the region.” These officials will offer “additional support” to embassy staff, while military personnel will provide “operational support to help British nationals.” The ministry also mentioned that Landing ship RFA Cardigan Bay and HMS Duncan are already in the eastern Mediterranean to assist allies with humanitarian requirements, with the Royal Air Force placing transport helicopters on standby.
The recent rocket attack on the Golan Heights sparked fears of escalating fighting between Hezbollah and Israel. Airlines announced on Tuesday that flights would resume on Wednesday after initial concerns subsided. However, Israel then struck a Hezbollah stronghold in south Beirut, targeting a senior commander blamed for the rocket strike on the Golan Heights, leading to an extension of the flight suspension until Saturday, which has now been prolonged again.
Earlier on Saturday, Iran indicated that it expects the Tehran-backed Hezbollah group to strike deeper inside Israel and not be confined to military targets. Hezbollah has been exchanging near-daily fire with Israeli forces. German carrier Lufthansa has suspended flights until August 5.
