The United States is arranging flights to help American citizens evacuate from Lebanon and is offering emergency loans for those who cannot afford tickets. After warnings issued by Israel, governments around the world are evacuating their respective citizens from Lebanon facing attacks.
The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon issued a security alert on Thursday, October 3, stating that Lebanon remains volatile and the security situation is unpredictable, with most areas continuing to be subject to airstrikes. Therefore, the U.S. State Department urges its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately while commercial flights and U.S. reinforcement flights are still available.
The security alert also advises that American citizens who choose not to leave Lebanon should prepare emergency plans for critical situations and be prepared to take shelter locally should the situation deteriorate further.
The announcement reads, “The U.S. Embassy strongly encourages American citizens residing in southern Lebanon, near the Syrian border, refugee settlements, and the Dahiyeh community in Beirut to immediately depart these areas.”
Furthermore, the announcement states that the Embassy will guide these American citizens to board available flights to leave Lebanon for a safe third country and will provide emergency loans for eligible American citizens to facilitate their travel to a secure location.
It mentions that the Embassy can assist U.S. citizens and their accompanying immediate family members in leaving Lebanon. If U.S. citizens intend to travel with family members whom the Embassy cannot currently assist, they are allowed to take commercial flights, with the Embassy facilitating their journey.
As Israel intensifies its bombings of the Lebanese capital Beirut, various governments urge their citizens to leave. On Thursday, Greece, Russia, Australia, and Spain among other countries dispatched planes to evacuate their citizens.
According to a report by The Hill, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller informed reporters during a press briefing on Thursday that approximately 250 Americans and their families have so far departed Lebanon aboard two U.S.-arranged flights.
Miller stated that both flights were headed to Istanbul, Turkey, with the second flight leaving Beirut on Thursday morning carrying a total of 134 passengers.
“So, what we’ve been trying to do is be responsive to the situation as it evolves,” Miller said. “Therefore, when there are enough commercial flights, we are encouraging U.S. citizens to take them.”
“We will continue to do everything in our power to assist American citizens who wish to leave,” the State Department spokesperson added.
Miller claimed that the U.S. has collaborated with Middle East Airlines to secure flight seats for Americans in Lebanon. The national carrier of Lebanon is currently the only commercial airline operating flights out of Lebanon.
Moreover, as mentioned in the U.S. Embassy security alert in Lebanon, Miller noted that if ticket prices are too high, Americans seeking to depart Lebanon can obtain loans from the U.S. government.