UK’s Lammy urges nationals to leave Lebanon amid rising tensions
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, in phone conversations with his Lebanese counterpart, Najib Mikati, has expressed deep concern about rising tensions and civilian casualties in Lebanon.
The secretary said they discussed the need for negotiations to restore stability and security across the border region between Israeli and Lebanon. He also urged British nationals to evacuate Lebanon, citing the region’s rising tensions.
“My message to British nationals in Lebanon is leave while commercial options remain. Tensions are high and the situation could deteriorate rapidly,” he wrote on X.
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I spoke with @Najib_Mikati and expressed my deep concern over rising tensions and civilian casualties in Lebanon.
We discussed the need for a negotiated solution to restore stability and security across the Blue Line.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) September 19, 2024
Delta Air Lines pauses flights between New York and Tel Aviv
Delta Air Lines announced it will suspend flights between New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport and Tel Aviv until December 31 citing the “ongoing conflict” in the Middle East.
The airline said it issued a travel waiver for affected passengers and urged customers to be prepared for further adjustments to its Tel Aviv flight schedule, including additional cancellations on a rolling basis. No further details were provided.
The announcement came amid growing concerns about an escalation of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.
Communications devices in Lebanon preloaded with explosives: Report
A preliminary investigation by Lebanese authorities into the electronic devices that blew up in Lebanon found they were implanted with explosives before arriving in Lebanon, according to a letter from the Lebanese mission to the UN and seen by news agencies.
The authorities also determined the devices, which included pagers and handheld radios, were detonated by sending electronic messages, the letter said.
“Initial investigations showed that the targeted devices were professionally booby-trapped … before arriving in Lebanon, and were detonated by sending emails to the devices,” it said.
WHO helping Lebanon’s health system after mass attacks
The head of the World Health Organization says it is working with Lebanon’s Health Ministry as it deals with thousands of wounded from exploding communications devices.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the strikes have “severely disrupted Lebanon’s already-fragile health system”.
He said WHO has distributed trauma and emergency surgery supplies, and “we are working to meet immediate needs, including blood supplies and blood testing kits, and monitoring how the health system is functioning”.
Abinasir Abubakar, WHO country representative in Lebanon, said at least one healthcare worker was killed in the spate of attacks. WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said the device explosions “came without warning and the whole health system came under immense pressure – and very, very quickly”.
