Lebanon terror as thousands flee homes after deadly Israeli missile barrage

The UK authorities has began preparations for a wide evacuation of Brits successful Lebanon and Keir Starmer has said British nationals successful Lebanon, should 'leave immediately'

Tens of thousands of radical fled confederate Lebanon yesterday aft different deadly barrage of Israeli missiles.

Dozens were killed successful overnight raids, including 2 UN staff, with 564 losing their lives implicit 2 days. Last night, the UK authorities began preparations for a wide evacuation of Brits successful Lebanon. Speaking connected a formation to the UN General Assembly successful New York, PM Keir Starmer said: “The astir important connection from maine this evening is to British nationals successful Lebanon, to permission immediately.”

He said No10 is ramping up contingency plans, adding: “More broadly, I americium disquieted astir the concern and I deliberation we request to beryllium wide we request de-escalation, we request a ceasefire, we request to propulsion backmost from the brink.”

He spoke aft highways were gridlocked successful confederate Lebanon, including successful Damour, 20km southbound of Beirut, arsenic families headed north. Michael Adams, the state manager for Care International UK successful Lebanon, said: “All the roads starring to Beirut from the southbound and Beqaa Valley are flooded with radical attempting to fly the bombardment.”

Some fleeing residents had to slumber astatine a promenade successful Sidon. Smoke billowed adjacent the colony of Al-Mahmoudiye aft a strike. Buildings were besides flattened successful the confederate colony of Akbieh. Lebanon’s wellness ministry said the “Israeli force raid connected Ghobeiri successful Beirut’s confederate suburbs killed six radical and injured 15”.

Israel said the onslaught killed Ibrahim Muhammad Qubaisi, a commandant of Hezbollah’s rocket and rocket system. On Monday, Israel told radical to fly residential buildings hiding Hezbollah arms and areas wherever the militants operate. It was the deadliest time successful Lebanon since 2006. More than 1,000 were injured.

The UN’s Dina Darwiche died with her youngest lad erstwhile a rocket struck the gathering wherever they lived connected Monday. She worked successful Beqaa. Her hubby and 1 of her children are being treated for “serious injuries”.

Ali Basma, the different unit subordinate killed, had worked successful Tyre and was buried yesterday. A spokesperson said: “UNHCR is outraged by the sidesplitting of our colleagues. We widen our deepest sympathies to their loved ones.” UN exile bureau spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh said: “The toll connected civilians is unacceptable.”

More than 150 schools became shelters and patients packed hospitals. Around 700 UK troops were past nighttime owed to beryllium deployed to Cyprus arsenic the UK steps up plans to evacuate Brits successful Lebanon amid fears of all-out warfare with Israel.

RAF craft and transport helicopters person been enactment connected standby. Defence Secretary John Healey near the Labour league aboriginal to seat a Cobra meeting. He said: “Events successful the past hours and days person demonstrated however volatile this concern is, which is wherefore our connection is clear, British nationals should permission now.”

Army chiefs are disquieted astir getting an estimated 10,000 Brits retired if Beirut International Airport shuts. More than 30 flights bound for Europe and the Middle East were axed. The Royal Navy’s HMS Duncan and RFA Mounts Bay are successful the Mediterranean acceptable to help.

Angela, 71, and Toufic Melki, 79, are among much than 3,000 British nationals who person registered their beingness successful Lebanon with the British embassy. Beirut-based Mrs Melki, who has 2 children successful the UK, past nighttime said: “I’m precise frightened astir the concern but don’t privation to permission my house. The banks took the wealth truthful we can’t leave.”

Israel Defence Forces said Al-Qubaisi was with Hezbollah officials astatine the clip of his killing. IDF main Herzi Halevi said Israel volition beryllium escalating its strikes, adding: “Hezbollah indispensable not beryllium fixed a break.” Hezbollah retaliated by firing much than 100 rockets astatine bluish Israel, mounting disconnected sirens successful cities including Haifa and Safed arsenic good arsenic Galilee.

Israel’s subject said the rockets started fires and damaged buildings. At the UN General Assembly yesterday, US President Joe Biden said a diplomatic solution to halt the struggle successful the Middle East from becoming a full-scale warfare is inactive possible.

He said since Hamas’ October 7 onslaught connected Israel, his medication had been “determined to forestall a wider warfare that engulfs the full region”. He added: “Almost a twelvemonth later, excessively galore connected each broadside of the Israeli-Lebanon borderline stay displaced. Even arsenic the concern has escalated, a diplomatic solution is inactive possible.”

At the UN General Assembly today, Mr Starmer is besides acceptable to sermon the conflicts successful Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan.