European governments, including Portugal, Spain, France, and the UK, are urging their citizens in Lebanon to evacuate immediately due to escalating hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has emphasized the importance of leaving immediately, stating that there are still commercial flights available for those who choose to heed the warning. The British government has mobilized roughly 700 troops to Cyprus as part of contingency plans to assist with the evacuation. Similarly, France has issued a travel warning advising its nationals to leave Lebanon due to Israel’s ongoing military campaign, while Spain has deployed military personnel to assist in the event of an evacuation.
Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has echoed the warnings from other European governments, advising against travel to Lebanon, particularly in the southern region of the Litani River and the Bekaa Valley. Spanish citizens are also advised to leave the country, although the Spanish government has not disclosed specific evacuation plans for its nationals in Lebanon. Israeli strikes targeting members of Hezbollah have led to the deaths of at least 575 people in the country’s south, while Hezbollah has retaliated by firing hundreds of rockets at Israel. The situation has become increasingly volatile, prompting European leaders to discuss evacuation efforts at a UN Security Council meeting in New York.
In response to the escalating tensions in Lebanon, European Commission spokesperson Peter Stano has stated that the EU is prepared to offer coordinated evacuation efforts if necessary. While some European governments have begun to mobilize military personnel and contingency plans, others are urging their citizens to leave the country using commercial flights that are still available. The warnings from European governments come as the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel continues to intensify, with both sides engaging in military actions that have led to a significant loss of life.
The urgency of the situation in Lebanon has prompted UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to emphasize the importance of immediate evacuation for British citizens in the country. The British government has mobilized troops to Cyprus to assist with contingency plans, while other European governments, such as France and Spain, have issued travel warnings advising their nationals to leave Lebanon due to escalating hostilities. The ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has resulted in a significant loss of life, with Israeli strikes killing hundreds of people in Lebanon’s south, while Hezbollah has launched retaliatory rocket attacks on Israel.
Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has echoed the warnings from other European countries, advising against travel to Lebanon and urging nationals to consider leaving by their own means using commercial flights. Spain has deployed military personnel to assist with potential evacuations, although specific details of evacuation plans have not been disclosed. The situation in Lebanon remains volatile, prompting European leaders to discuss evacuation efforts at a UN Security Council meeting. The EU has expressed readiness to provide coordinated evacuation if needed to ensure the safety of European citizens in Lebanon amid the escalating conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.
Overall, European governments are taking proactive measures to ensure the safety of their citizens in Lebanon by urging immediate evacuation in light of the escalating hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. The ongoing conflict has led to a significant loss of life and heightened tensions in the region, prompting European leaders to discuss coordinated evacuation efforts. The warnings from European governments, including the UK, France, Spain, and Portugal, highlight the urgent need for citizens to leave Lebanon by utilizing available commercial flights and contingency plans. The situation in Lebanon remains fluid, with the EU standing ready to assist member states in ensuring the safety and security of their nationals in the midst of the ongoing crisis.
