US Embassy in Beirut working to help citizens leave Lebanon
The US Embassy in Beirut says it is working with airlines “to address US citizens’ requests to depart Lebanon by providing additional flights with seats for personal purchase”.
The announcement came on X, and the embassy’s website published a form for the citizens to seek information on the possible assistance. This comes two days after the US Department of State ordered some employees at its embassy in Beirut and family members to leave Lebanon.
The State Department also urged Americans in the country to leave, warning the currently limited options to depart might become unavailable if the security situation worsens.
British base in Cyprus prepares for potential evacuations from Lebanon
Yesterday, pro-Palestinian campaigners protested at the gates of British base Akrotiri, accusing the UK of tacitly supporting Israel’s war in Gaza and bombardment of Lebanon.
The same base has been bolstered in anticipation of any potential evacuation of British nationals from the region, the Reuters news agency reported today. The UK has two military bases in Cyprus, a former British colony. RAF Akrotiri has been used in the past as a staging point for air attacks against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other government ministers have also called on British nationals to leave Lebanon on commercial flights while it is possible. Last week, the UK sent additional troops to Cyprus to assist with potential evacuation of nationals trapped in Lebanon.
‘Israel stands with you’: Netanyahu in video address to Iranians
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a new video addressing Iranians in which he says the Iranian establishment “plunges our region deeper into darkness and deeper into war”.
“Every day, their puppets are eliminated. Ask [Hamas commander] Mohammed Deif, ask [Hezbollah’s Hassan] Nasrallah. There is nowhere in the Middle East Israel cannot reach. There is nowhere we will not go to protect our people and protect our country,” Netanyahu said in the video he posted on X.
“With every passing moment, the regime is bringing you – the noble Persian people – closer to the abyss. The vast majority of Iranians know their regime doesn’t care a whit about them,” he said.
Netanyahu added that when Iran is “finally free”, Israel and Iran will be at “peace”, with tourism and technological advancements benefitting both countries.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called on Muslims around the world to unite and “stand by the people of Lebanon and the proud Hezbollah”, following reports of the killing of the Lebanese group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli air strike on Friday.
In a statement on Saturday, Khamenei condemned Israel’s “criminal” attacks on Lebanon and described its policy as “short-sighted”.
Does he actually believe that or just another provocation. Imagine Putin saying that to Nato countries.
Iran needs reforms, but that's not going to happen under constant threats. China is doing a much better job in that regard.
