The UK government has chartered additional flights to evacuate British nationals from Lebanon amid a worsening security situation. A “limited number” of flights has been organised by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to support Britons wishing to leave the country.
The first evacuation flight left Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Wednesday with 150 passengers. More flights are scheduled to depart starting today, with operations set to continue as long as the security situation allows.
The FCDO confirmed: “The UK continues to work with partners to increase capacity on commercial flights for British nationals.” It added that around 700 troops, along with Foreign Office and Home Office personnel—including Border Force officers—have been deployed to Cyprus to support contingency planning.
The government has urged British nationals in Lebanon to register their presence immediately if they have not done so already, as registration is essential to receive information on how to secure a seat on the evacuation flights. Those without a confirmed booking are advised not to travel to the airport.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasised the gravity of the situation, saying, “Recent events have demonstrated the volatility of the situation in Lebanon. The safety of British nationals in Lebanon continues to be our number one priority. That’s why we are announcing additional chartered flights to help those who want to leave. I urge all British nationals still in Lebanon to register with the FCDO and leave the country immediately.”
The government’s priority is to ensure the safety of British nationals, with additional flights being chartered to meet the demand. Britons in Lebanon are strongly encouraged to follow government advice, register with the FCDO, and act promptly to secure their safe departure from the country.
