Foreign Secretary David Lammy has urged British nationals to heed the government’s advice and leave Lebanon immediately.
He said the situation on the ground is “fast moving” and ministers can’t guarantee being able to help “if things escalate in a major way over the coming hours and days”.
There are concerns about rising violence in the Middle East after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in Israeli airstrikes on Beirut.
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Mr Lammy said the government had set up a rapid response unit to help Britons wanting to leave Lebanon, with 700 troops stationed in Cyprus and seats booked on commercial flights to bring British citizens home.
He told reporters on Monday night: “I have been urging since coming to office in July for British nationals to leave Lebanon. And indeed the previous government from October 2023 was urging UK nationals not to travel to Lebanon.
“Notwithstanding that we sent a rapid response team. 700 troops are in Cyprus. We will do all we can to assist people to get out. We have secured places on commercial flights that are flying tomorrow so that UK nationals can get out.”
Mr Lammy added: “I urge them to leave because the situation on the ground is fast moving and of course whilst we will do everything we can to protect British nationals and those plans are in place to do so, we cannot anticipate the circumstances of the speed with which we could do that If things escalate in a major way over the coming hours and days.”
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