Western countries are updating contingency plans to organize evacuations from Lebanon after a sharp escalation in the border war between Israel and the Lebanese armed movement Hezbollah.
Cyprus, the closest EU member state to the Middle East, is a potential centre, having received some 60,000 people who fled the war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006.
Neighboring Türkiye has also offered facilities.
No country has activated a large-scale military evacuation operation yet, although some are chartering planes to help their nationals leave as Beirut’s airport remains open. There were also plans for evacuation by sea to Cyprus, allowing the movement of larger groups of people at one time.
Here are details about emergency planning:
The authorities have drawn up emergency plans that could include evacuation by sea, although they have urged an estimated 15,000 of their citizens in Lebanon to leave while Beirut airport remains open.
News reports from Canada indicate that it will cooperate with Australia in evacuating citizens by sea. The plan involves contracting with a commercial ship to transport 1,000 people per day.
The Canadian government on Friday began coordinating trade-assisted departures for Canadians looking to exit Lebanon, Global News has learned.
Global Affairs Canada is reserving blocks of seats on commercial flights for Canadian citizens as it becomes increasingly difficult to book seats independently, sources in two government departments said.
France, which urges its citizens not to travel to Lebanon, made evacuation plans several months ago but did not issue an evacuation order. Current contingency plans are centered around Cyprus and Beirut Airport, while evacuations via Türkiye are also being discussed. France owns a warship in the region, while it owns a French helicopter carrier He will arrive A French army spokesman said on Tuesday that French forces will deploy in the eastern Mediterranean over the coming days and take up positions in the event that a decision is made to evacuate foreign nationals from Lebanon.
A joint statement from the foreign and defense ministries said on Monday that Germany had evacuated non-essential staff, families of embassy workers and medically vulnerable German citizens from Lebanon and would support others who try to leave. A German Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday that Germans in the region can leave the country on commercial flights through airports that remain open.
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged its citizens to leave Lebanon and avoid any travel to the country. A frigate is on standby in case assistance is needed.
Britain called on its citizens to leave immediately. It has transferred around 700 troops to Cyprus, strengthening its presence in the region where it already has military assets, including two Royal Navy ships. It also has two military bases on the island. The British government has rented a trip To help meet any additional demand from Britons wishing to leave on Wednesday, they will return directly to London.
A source told Reuters that Italy reduced the number of its non-essential diplomatic staff and strengthened security personnel at its embassy in Beirut. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani repeatedly urged citizens to leave the country and asked for guarantees from Israel regarding the safety of Italian soldiers working in peacekeeping operations in the region.
The United States ordered the deployment of dozens of soldiers to Cyprus to help prepare for scenarios, including the evacuation of Americans from Lebanon.
Prime Minister Luis Montenegro advised against traveling to Lebanon. The state helped evacuate a small number of Portuguese citizens living there.
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(Reporting by Reuters Bureau, Writing by Michelle Kambas, Editing by Andrew Cawthorn, Sharon Singleton, Toby Chopra and Ed Osmond)
—With files from Global News
