Israel’s airstrikes on Beirut are inching closer and closer to the only airport in Lebanon as foreign governments – including Britain – are racing against time to evacuate people.
A plane charted by the UK government carrying Britons landed in Birmingham on Wednesday evening, while another flight is set to have departed today.
Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport remains open, but the UK Foreign Office has today warned that access may be disrupted by bombardments in the area.
This would cut off the most straightforward exit route for British nationals still in Lebanon.
A statement read: ‘There is a risk that access to the airport may be disrupted, by traffic congestion, temporary road blocks or closure caused by Israeli airstrikes nearby.’
Only one commercial airline, Middle East Airlines, currently flies from the capital, but flights have been sold out and the next available one is not scheduled until October 11.
The government is preparing contingency plans for sea and air rescues via Cyprus for the more for the 5,000 nationals should the security situation deteriorate even more.
It comes as new Israeli strikes have hit the Hay el-Sellom neighborhood in Laylaki, in the southern suburbs of Beirut – less than two miles from the airport.
Israel continued to bomb densely-populated neighbourhoods in Beirut, in efforts to eliminate as many Hezbollah commanders.
The strike late Wednesday on a medical centre was the closest yet to downtown Beirut, coming just a mile away from the British Embassy.
In the hours after the attack, residents reported a sulfur-like smell, and Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency accused Israel of using internationally banned phosphorus bombs.
Seven of those killed were Hezbollah-affiliated civilian first responders.
‘The primary smoke shells used by the IDF do not contain white phosphorus,’ the Israeli army said.
‘Like many Western militaries, the IDF also possesses smoke shells, which include white phosphorus, which are lawful under international law.’
Human rights groups have accused Israel of using white phosphorus incendiary shells on towns and villages in southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah militants have a strong presence.
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