Countries evacuate their nationals from Lebanon as Israel launches ground offensive

FRANCE 24

1 October 2024 at 7:45 am·1-min read

Israel launched a ground offensive in Lebanon on Tuesday, escalating a conflict against Hezbollah after a week of air strikes that have killed hundreds. Several countries have begun evacuating their nationals from Lebanon or are planning to do so. Here's what we know so far.

Nations are updating contingency plans for organising evacuations from Lebanon after a sharp escalation in border warfare between Israel and the Lebanese armed movement Hezbollah.

Cyprus, the closest European Union member state to the Middle East, is a likely hub, having processed around 60,000 people fleeing the Hezbollah-Israel war in 2006.

Neighbouring Turkey has offered facilities as well.

No country has activated a large-scale military evacuation yet, though some are chartering aircraft to assist in their nationals leaving as Beirut airport remains open. There have also been plans to evacuate by sea to Cyprus, enabling the movement of larger groups of people at a time.

Here are details on contingency planning:

Australia

He did not provide details.

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