Several nations are organizing the evacuation of their citizens residing in Lebanon, where the Israeli military launched a ground operation against Hezbollah in the southern part of the country on Monday.
A French Navy ship departed yesterday from southeastern France, heading to the waters off Lebanon, where it will position itself “as a precaution” in case an evacuation of French citizens is needed, according to the French General Staff. The French amphibious helicopter carrier (PHA) will take “five to six days” to reach this area of the eastern Mediterranean from the port of Toulon. Around 23,000 French or Franco-Lebanese citizens are residing in Lebanon.
Germany also sent a military aircraft to Beirut yesterday to evacuate mainly embassy workers and their families. Additionally, employees of German organizations, along with their families, and citizens at medical risk will be repatriated. Approximately 1,800 German citizens have been registered by the crisis management unit of the German diplomatic mission in Lebanon.
The UK announced last night that it chartered a commercial flight for its citizens wishing to leave Lebanon. This flight is scheduled to depart tomorrow, Wednesday, from Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport. Last week, London announced the deployment of 700 soldiers to Cyprus to prepare for a potential evacuation of its citizens from Lebanon.
Canada also announced yesterday that it had reserved 800 seats on commercial flights to help its citizens leave Lebanon. Approximately 45,000 Canadians are in the country, and the next flight is scheduled for today. The Canadian military has prepared emergency resources in Cyprus in case commercial flights are halted.
