Passengers queue at the check-in counters at Beirut-Rafik Hariri International Airport, in Beirut, Lebanon Oct. 2, 2024. (Credit: Yara Abi Nader/Reuters)
As Israel launches its ground operation, sending its soldiers across the border into Lebanon, Western nations are bracing for a potential mass evacuation of their citizens as the situation continues to escalate.
In the last nine days Israel has carried out major airstrikes across the country, killing more than 1,000 people, as well as assassinating Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday. Israel has vowed to continue its purported military goal of returning its citizens to the northern border villages and "degrading Hezbollah".
Several governments have issued urgent travel warnings and military evacuation plans are being prepared in case the situation deteriorates further. The nearby island of Cyprus is once again playing a key roll in facilitating operations, as it also did in the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel.
Many Western governments have issued ‘Level 4: Do Not Travel’ warnings for Lebanon, advising their citizens to leave the country while commercial flights are still available. Airlines have begun suspending flights to and from Beirut, heightening the urgency for immediate departure.
Here is a breakdown of evacuation plans by country:
• United States: The U.S. embassy has strongly encouraged American citizens to leave Lebanon as soon as possible. On Sept. 21, 2024, the embassy facilitated access for U.S. expats to reserve commercial flight tickets, emphasizing the urgency of making personal arrangements. While no formal military evacuation has been activated, the U.S. has contingency plans that could involve military transport via helicopters or naval vessels, with Cyprus as a primary staging ground if commercial air travel becomes impossible, according to the U.S. embassy in Lebanon.
• United Kingdom: U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced in late September 2024 that a chartered flight has been arranged to assist British citizens seeking to leave Lebanon. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced that a UK charter flight to evacuate British nationals had left Lebanon and that another was scheduled on Thursday. Additionally, more than 1,000 British military personnel are stationed in Cyprus, ready to conduct a large-scale evacuation, if necessary. Should commercial flights cease, the U.K. is prepared to use Royal Air Force planes, helicopters, or naval ships to evacuate citizens to Cyprus.
• Canada: With approximately 45,000 Canadians in Lebanon, the Canadian government issued early warnings in September 2024, urging their citizens to leave via commercial flights. Canada is coordinating with NATO members for a potential military evacuation if commercial options are no longer viable, with Cyprus serving as the main hub for air and sea transport, reports the Canadian embassy in Lebanon.
• Germany: The German embassy, in early September 2024, advised citizens to depart Lebanon immediately. Germany is ready to activate military evacuation procedures, which would involve Luftwaffe aircraft potentially operating from Cyprus if Lebanon’s airspace is closed.
• France: The French government has issued repeated travel warnings, advising nationals to leave while commercial flights remain an option. If the situation escalates, France will deploy military aircraft and naval ships, with Cyprus as a key operational center for the evacuation of French citizens.
• Australia: Australian nationals were similarly advised by their embassy in September 2024 to depart Lebanon using commercial flights. While Australia has not detailed specific military evacuation plans, they have consular and military resources on standby and are prepared to coordinate with allied nations. Cyprus is expected to play a central role in any evacuation operation.
• Switzerland: Switzerland urged its citizens to leave Lebanon in early September 2024 and is coordinating with EU nations for potential military evacuation assistance. The embassy announced that Swiss authorities are prepared to utilize Cyprus for air and sea evacuations if the security situation further deteriorates.
• Slovakia: Slovakia is preparing the evacuation of its citizens and other EU nationals from Lebanon, and has also approved using a military plane to deliver humanitarian aid, the Slovak Foreign Ministry today.
Cyprus, the key evacuation hub
Most Western nations are advising their citizens to leave Lebanon by commercial flights while still available. However, if airspace becomes restricted due to escalating conflict, Cyprus, just 45 minutes by air from Beirut, is positioned as the central hub for military evacuations. With NATO resources and allied military operations coordinated through Cyprus, air and sea evacuations would be staged from the island, making it the critical focal point for rescue missions if the situation spirals out of control.