Members of the French contingent of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) pictured during a visit by the French Minister of the Armed Forces in the southern Lebanese village of Deir Kifa on Nov. 2, 2023. (Credit: Mahmoud Zayyat/AFP)
BEIRUT — The caretaker cabinet has announced that it will form a committee to study requests to evacuate foreign nationals and the necessary associated measures in the event of an escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas that has spilled over into south Lebanon since Oct. 8.
This committee is headed by the secretary-general of the Higher Defense Council, a statement from the office of Lebanon's caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, announced Friday.
“In light of the current developments and the necessities of safety and public interest … the committee formed will have representatives of: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the army command, the General Directorate of Internal Security Forces, the General Directorate of Public Security, the General Directorate of State Security, and the customs administration,” the statement said.
Overflight of aircraft carrying foreign military personnel
“The committee’s mission shall be to study requests for the evacuation of foreign nationals from Lebanon, as well as requests for the overflight of aircraft carrying foreign military personnel in Lebanese airspace and landing at [Beirut] international airport carrying dangerous materials to support efforts to prepare for this evacuation,” the statement explained.
According to the daily Al Akhbar newspaper, the German Embassy requested the approval of the Lebanese cabinet to deploy elements from the German army on Lebanese territory "to prevent harm to German citizens and rescue them in times of distress.”
It was also allegedly revealed to Al Akhbar that several other countries have requested permission for their military aircraft to land at Beirut Airport. Canada, for instance, landed a military plane at Beirut Airport on Oct. 25, carrying weapons and classified hazardous materials, the daily wrote.
Al Akhbar alleged too that the Belgian Embassy has requested permission to introduce "hazardous materials" through Beirut international airport on Nov. 14.
According to security officials, Lebanon has not received similar requests since 2006, and it is clear that this is related to the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza and Lebanon's exceptional situation, Al Akhbar also reported.
L'Orient Today tried contacting the Beirut international airport, the German Embassy, and the Lebanese Army for further comment on the matter, but none responded immediately. The Canadian Embassy when reached, said it was not immediately available for comment.
Several countries have advised their citizens to leave Lebanon, among them are the US, UK, Germany, Belgium and France.
Airline companies, most notably Middle East Airlines, have canceled several of their flights from and towards Lebanon.
Those moves come as fears of further military escalation loom over Lebanon as the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues on the southern border, amid the Israel-Hamas war that has been ongoing since Oct. 7 when Hamas militants implemented operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
More than 50 people, mostly Hezbollah militants, have been killed so far by Israeli strikes in south Lebanon.
