The UK government has began preparations for a mass evacuation of Brits in Lebanon and Keir Starmer has said British nationals in Lebanon, should ‘leave immediately’
Tens of thousands of people fled southern Lebanon yesterday after another deadly barrage of Israeli missiles.
Dozens were killed in overnight raids, including two UN staff, with 564 losing their lives over two days. Last night, the UK government began preparations for a mass evacuation of Brits in Lebanon. Speaking on a flight to the UN General Assembly in New York, PM Keir Starmer said: “The most important message from me this evening is to British nationals in Lebanon, to leave immediately.”
He said No10 is ramping up contingency plans, adding: “More broadly, I am worried about the situation and I think we need to be clear we need de-escalation, we need a ceasefire, we need to pull back from the brink.”
He spoke after highways were gridlocked in southern Lebanon, including in Damour, 20km south of Beirut, as families headed north. Michael Adams, the country director for Care International UK in Lebanon, said: “All the roads leading to Beirut from the south and Beqaa Valley are flooded with people attempting to flee the bombardment.”
Some fleeing residents had to sleep at a promenade in Sidon. Smoke billowed near the village of Al-Mahmoudiye after a strike. Buildings were also flattened in the southern village of Akbieh. Lebanon’s health ministry said the “Israeli enemy raid on Ghobeiri in Beirut’s southern suburbs killed six people and injured 15”.
Israel said the attack killed Ibrahim Muhammad Qubaisi, a commander of Hezbollah’s missile and rocket system. On Monday, Israel told people to flee residential buildings hiding Hezbollah arms and areas where the militants operate. It was the deadliest day in Lebanon since 2006. More than 1,000 were injured.
The UN’s Dina Darwiche died with her youngest son when a missile struck the building where they lived on Monday. She worked in Beqaa. Her husband and one of her children are being treated for “serious injuries”.
Ali Basma, the other staff member killed, had worked in Tyre and was buried yesterday. A spokesman said: “UNHCR is outraged by the killing of our colleagues. We extend our deepest sympathies to their loved ones.” UN refugee agency spokesman Matthew Saltmarsh said: “The toll on civilians is unacceptable.”
More than 150 schools became shelters and patients packed hospitals. Around 700 UK troops were last night due to be deployed to Cyprus as the UK steps up plans to evacuate Brits in Lebanon amid fears of all-out war with Israel.
RAF aircraft and transport helicopters have been put on standby. Defence Secretary John Healey left the Labour conference early to chair a Cobra meeting. He said: “Events in the past hours and days have demonstrated how volatile this situation is, which is why our message is clear, British nationals should leave now.”
Army chiefs are worried about getting an estimated 10,000 Brits out if Beirut International Airport shuts. More than 30 flights bound for Europe and the Middle East were axed. The Royal Navy’s HMS Duncan and RFA Mounts Bay are in the Mediterranean ready to help.
Angela, 71, and Toufic Melki, 79, are among more than 3,000 British nationals who have registered their presence in Lebanon with the British embassy. Beirut-based Mrs Melki, who has two children in the UK, last night said: “I’m very scared about the situation but don’t want to leave my house. The banks took the money so we can’t leave.”
Israel Defence Forces said Al-Qubaisi was with Hezbollah officials at the time of his killing. IDF chief Herzi Halevi said Israel will be escalating its strikes, adding: “Hezbollah must not be given a break.” Hezbollah retaliated by firing more than 100 rockets at northern Israel, setting off sirens in cities including Haifa and Safed as well as Galilee.
Israel’s military said the rockets started fires and damaged buildings. At the UN General Assembly yesterday, US President Joe Biden said a diplomatic solution to stop the conflict in the Middle East from becoming a full-scale war is still possible.
He said since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, his administration had been “determined to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire region”. He added: “Almost a year later, too many on each side of the Israeli-Lebanon border remain displaced. Even as the situation has escalated, a diplomatic solution is still possible.”
At the UN General Assembly today, Mr Starmer is also set to discuss the conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan.