The U.S. has moved out over 1,000 Americans and their dependents from war-hit Lebanon aboard its chartered flights in the last week.
Americans Arrive In Turkey
They have arrived in Turkey for a temporary stay, the top U.S. diplomat in Istanbul said on Thursday.
Israel has ramped up its ground and air assault on Lebanese armed group Hezbollah in recent weeks.
United States and several other countries are now relying on commercial and state-booked flights to get citizens out, especially via Turkey.
“It’s the fastest, safest way to get Americans out of harm’s way,” Consul General Julie Eadeh said in an interview.
“The security situation is dynamic, so we have been planning for months for all contingencies.”
Focus On Air Departures
The Consul General said that since the airport in Beirut remains operational and open, their focus is on facilitating departures by air.”
Ten of 12 U.S. chartered flights from Beirut have arrived in Istanbul carrying 1,025 citizens and immediate family members since October 2, according to another U.S. official.
People Fear For Their Lives
Those interviewed at the airport said they were shaken by bombings and feared for their lives.
“It’s not safe for her there,” Nadine El Shab said of the baby daughter she held in her hands.
Nadine said that she would next travel onward to Michigan.
Agreement With Ankara
An agreement with Ankara spells out conditions for U.S. travellers and those arriving on chartered flights from some other Western countries.
Such travellers must depart Turkey within 72 hours of arrival.
Apart from those headed to Istanbul, two other U.S. chartered flights from Beirut arrived in Frankfurt and Doha in recent days.
Flights To Continue For U.S Citizens Still In Lebanon
Authorities expect such flights will continue for the thousands of U.S. citizens still in Lebanon.
Washington could shift its focus to the more complicated option of sea evacuations if the situation worsens in Lebanon and the airport is compromised.
It has said additional that troops were deployed to Cyprus to prepare for this.
NATO member Turkey has worked with the United States and at least 20 other states to prepare for possible sea evacuations.
This week it evacuated nearly 1,000 of its own citizens via two navy landing ships.
What Happens In a Formal Sea Evacuation?
Diplomats have said that, in a formal sea evacuation, foreign countries would work with Turkish and Cypriot authorities to coordinate movement of vessels and use of nearby Mediterranean ports.
Dozens of flights continue to leave Beirut airport daily.
The United States has additionally secured more than 4,500 seats for citizens aboard commercial flights from Lebanon in recent weeks, Eadeh said.
Many seats on those flights and on the chartered flights were left unfilled.
People Have An Option To Leave
Eadeh, who also monitored sea evacuations from Lebanon in 2006 as part of the U.S. mission there, said the goal was not to fill every seat.
“We are giving people an option that, if they want to leave because they determine the situation is untenable… they have a way out.”
