Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli air strike on the southern Lebanese village of Arnoun, on Oct. 1.-/AFP/Getty Images
Western countries are updating contingency plans for organizing 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 for evacuations, 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
Authorities have made contingency plans that could include evacuation by sea, though it has urged an estimated 15,000 of its citizens in Lebanon to leave while Beirut airport remains open.
Belgium
Belgium’s foreign ministry advises Belgian citizens to leave Lebanon as soon as possible, Belga news agency reported.
Canada
News reports from Canada suggest it will co-operate with Australia in evacuating nationals by sea. The plan involves contracting a commercial vessel to transport 1,000 people out each day, The Toronto Star reported.
France
France, which has been urging citizens not to travel to Lebanon, has had evacuation plans in place for several months but has not issued an evacuation order. Present contingency plans center on Cyprus and Beirut airport, while it is also discussing evacuations via Turkey. France has a warship in the region, while a French helicopter carrier will arrive in the eastern Mediterranean in the coming days and take up position in case a decision is taken to evacuate foreign nationals from Lebanon, a French army spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Germany
Germany has evacuated non-essential staff, families of embassy workers and German nationals who are medically vulnerable out of Lebanon and will support others trying to leave, a joint statement by the foreign and defence ministries said on Monday. Germans in the region can leave the country on commercial flights via airports that are still open, a spokesperson for the German foreign ministry said on Monday.
Greece
The Greek foreign ministry has urged its citizens to leave Lebanon and avoid any travel to the country. A frigate is on standby in case assistance is needed.
Italy
Italy has reduced unnecessary diplomatic staff and beefed up security personnel at its embassy in Beirut, a source told Reuters. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has repeatedly urged nationals to leave the country and sought assurances from Israel over the safety of Italian soldiers operating in peacekeeping operations in the area.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands will repatriate its citizens from Lebanon, Dutch news agency ANP reported on Tuesday.
Portugal
Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has advised against travel to Lebanon. The country assisted in the evacuation of a small number of Portuguese citizens living there.
Turkey
Turkey is ready to carry out a possible evacuation of Turks from Lebanon via air and sea, and is working with around 20 countries on preparing its ports and airports for a possible evacuation of foreign nationals via Turkey, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
A diplomatic source said that some 14,000 Turkish citizens were registered at the Turkish consulate in Lebanon, though that number was not definitive. Some states “with fewer resources” were asking to join Turkish evacuation operations.
“If an evacuation decision is made, the priority will be our own citizens,” the source said.
“Our military cargo planes and ships that will be used in a possible evacuation are waiting ready for duty.”
United Kingdom
Britain has called for its nationals to leave immediately. It has moved around 700 troops to Cyprus, bolstering its presence in the area where it already has military assets, including two Royal Navy ships. It also has two military bases on the island. The British government has chartered a flight to help meet any additional demand from Britons wishing to leave on Wednesday, and will fly directly back to London.
United States
The U.S. has ordered the deployment of dozens of troops to Cyprus to help prepare for scenarios, including an evacuation of Americans from Lebanon.
Israeli tanks were seen massing near the border with Lebanon as Hezbollah's deputy said the group was ready for a ground invasion. Lebanon's government said one million of its people have now been displaced by Israel's attacks.
Reuters