PRESS RELEASE : UK charters more flights to help British nationals to leave Lebanon [October 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 October 2024.

Government set to help hundreds of British nationals leave Lebanon in the coming days, as they are urged to get the first flight available.

• comes after more than 150 British nationals and dependents left Beirut on a government-chartered flight yesterday and the Defence Secretary visited troops in Cyprus working on contingency planning
• UK and partners continue to call for de-escalation in the region and urge all parties to step back from the brink

The UK government has chartered a limited number of flights from Lebanon to support British nationals to leave the country in response to the deteriorating security situation.

To meet the demand for the charter flight on Wednesday, additional flights will depart from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport from Thursday. The flights will continue for as long as the security situation allows.

The UK continues to work with partners to increase capacity on commercial flights for British nationals. Around 700 troops and Foreign Office and Home Office staff, including Border Force officers, have been deployed to Cyprus for contingency planning.

British nationals who have registered their presence with the government will be sent details on how to request a seat. Those who have not already registered their presence in Lebanon are urged to do so immediately.

British nationals and their spouse or partner, and children under the age of 18 are eligible. All passengers must hold a valid travel document. Dependants who are not British nationals will require a valid visa that has been granted for a period of stay in the UK of more than 6 months.

British nationals and their dependants should not travel to the airport unless they have a seat booked on a plane.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

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.

UK government officials have been working round the clock in London, Beirut and the wider region to provide support to British nationals. A FCDO Rapid Deployment Team has also arrived in Lebanon to bolster the support offered by British Embassy officials.

Yesterday (2 October) Defence Secretary John Healey MP travelled to Cyprus to meet and thank military personnel who are deployed as part of contingency planning to support British nationals in Lebanon. He also met with his Cypriot counterpart Vasilis Palmas. They discussed the urgent need for de-escalation in the Middle East as well as the country’s support for humanitarian operations.

The Defence Secretary also held a call with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant to express the UK’s condemnation of the Iranian attack and call for de-escalation and a ceasefire in Lebanon.

The FCDO urges everyone to continue to follow the relevant travel advice, exercise caution, and monitor media in Lebanon for developments.

The UK continues to call for a ceasefire between Lebanese Hizballah and Israel. A ceasefire would provide the space necessary to find a political solution in line with Resolution 1701.

Background

• British nationals and dependants will be eligible to request a space on the flight. Any non-British dependants will require a visa to enter the UK, granted for a period of stay in the UK of longer than 6 months, in line with usual immigration rules and entry process
• the FCDO launched the register your presence in Lebanon service on Wednesday 25 September 2024
• a limited number of commercial flights are still operating and the FCDO has been working with partners to increase capacity to enable British nationals to leave
• the FCDO has been advising British nationals to leave Lebanon since October 2023