The UK has chartered a flight out of Lebanon for Britons to leave the country amid the escalating violence in the region.
The flight is due to leave Beirut-Rafic Hariri international airport on Wednesday. David Lammy, the foreign secretary, described the situation in Lebanon as “volatile” and with the “potential to deteriorate quickly”.
British nationals and their spouses, partners and children under 18 are eligible for the flight, and those who are vulnerable will be prioritised. There are 5,000 British single and dual nationals in Lebanon, including members of their immediate families, and the government said it was working on “all contingency options”.
Israeli has launched small ground raids against Hezbollah and sealed off communities along its northern boundary, the US and other officials said late on Monday. At least 95 people were killed by Israeli strikes on Monday, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
Lammy said: “The situation in Lebanon is volatile and has potential to deteriorate quickly. The safety of British nationals in Lebanon continues to be our utmost priority. That’s why the UK government is chartering a flight to help those wanting to leave. It is vital that you leave now as further evacuation may not be guaranteed”.
He chaired a ministerial meeting of the Cobra emergency committee on Monday to discuss the conflict.
Heavy shelling by Israeli forces took place along the border in the area north of Kiryat Shmona. The towns of Marjayoun, Wazzani and Khiam were shelled on Monday night and there were reports of a heavy presence of Israeli aircraft over southern Lebanon.
British military assets have been deployed to Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean in case an evacuation is required, although ministers and officials have stressed that Britons should leave immediately.
Speaking earlier on Monday, Lammy said: “We will do all that we can to assist people to get out and we have secured places on commercial flights that are flying tomorrow so that UK nationals can get out.
“I urge them to leave because the situation on the ground is fast moving.”
He added: “And of course, whilst we will do everything we can to protect British nationals – and those plans are in place to do so – we cannot anticipate the circumstances and the speed with which we could do that if things escalate in a major way over the coming hours and days.”
Lammy said he had spoken his US counterpart, Antony Blinken, and that they agreed that “the best way forward is an immediate ceasefire”.
It is understood that about 15 spaces for British nationals were secured on a flight that arrived on Sunday and a further 40 on a flight due to leave on Tuesday.