Government Tells British Nationals in Lebanon to Leave Immediately

Smoke rises from Israeli airstrikes on villages in the Nabatiyeh district, seen from the southern town of Marjayoun, Lebanon, on Sept. 23, 2024. Hussein Malla/AP Photo

The government has ordered British nationals to leave Lebanon immediately following significant escalation between Israel and Hezbollah in recent days.

The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) said in a statement on Tuesday that contingency plans are being rolled out and the government is continuing to advise against all travel to the country.

Military teams comprising of around 700 British troops are being moved to Cyprus and will be supported by FCDO and Border Force officials.

Defence Secretary John Healey said in the statement: “Events in the past hours and days have demonstrated how volatile this situation is, which is why our message is clear, British nationals should leave now.

“We continue to urge all sides to step back from conflict to prevent further tragic loss of life. Our government is ensuring all preparations are in place to support British nationals should the situation deteriorate. I want to thank the British personnel who are deploying in the region for their commitment and professionalism.”

Ministers have called for a ceasefire after hundreds have been killed since Israel began conducting strikes against targets in southern Lebanon.

Starmer Calls for De-escalation

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer travelled to New York City on Tuesday night ahead of delivering a speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday.

The prime minister said rising tensions in the Middle East are a major concern, with allies calling for Israel to de-escalate action in its conflict with Lebanon.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s “Today” programme on Wednesday, Starmer reiterated his call for a ceasefire, saying that “we are potentially at a brink point.”

“I have long supported Israel’s right to self defence, and that has been absolutely clear and consistent in everything I’ve ever said,” Starmer said.

“But the point we’re at now is very close to the brink, and that’s why we need to de-escalate. It doesn’t mean we walk away from the problems. It doesn’t mean that we don’t recognise the threat that Israel is under—which is very real ... But this escalation is getting to a point where the right thing now to do is to de-escalate, have a ceasefire, and ensure that we can progress in a different way,” the prime minister said.

Partial Arms Export Ban

Earlier this month the UK suspended some arms exports to Israel, over what Foreign Secretary David Lammy said were concerns that they would be used in violation of international humanitarian law in the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised the British government’s decision and the timing of the announcement, which came just days after Hamas executed six Israeli hostages.

Netanyahu told the Daily Mail last week that it sent a “horrible message to Hamas.”

“These misguided decisions will not change Israel’s determination to defeat Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organisation that savagely murdered 1,200 people on October 7, including 14 British citizens, and took 255 people, including five British hostages,” he said.

Starmer said on Wednesday that Netanyahu’s criticism of the ban was wrong.

He told LBC: “He’s not right about that. We had to comply with international law and our own domestic law in relation to that. And I’ve always been clear. I support Israel’s right to self defence. I’ve been robust about that ... But of course, it’s got to be done in accordance with international law.”

Israel Strikes Against Hezbollah

Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terror group, began firing rockets into northern Israel from southern Lebanon a day after Hamas’s deadly Oct. 7 terror attack.

Israel retaliated with airstrikes and the conflict steadily intensified over the past year, with the Jewish state vowing to push back Hezbollah from its border so Israelis can return to their homes.

The conflict has intensified in recent weeks. On Sept. 20, an Israeli airstrike on a Beirut suburb killed a top Hezbollah military commander and more than a dozen fighters. Dozens of civilians, including women and children, were also killed.

On Tuesday, Israel said it had struck dozens of Hezbollah targets overnight. The Israeli Air Force said it hit 1,600 terrorist targets in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. Lebanese officials said 558 people were killed including 50 children and 1,835 people were wounded.

Israel Defense Forces said that the Lebanese terror group had launched more than 100 projectiles towards Israel on Monday, reaching deep into the country.

Guy Birchall contributed to this report.