U.S. moved 1,000 citizens out of war-hit Lebanon via Turkey

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By Jonathan Spicer

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – More than 1,000 Americans and their dependents have fled war-hit Lebanon aboard U.S. chartered flights in the last week, arriving in Turkey for a temporary stay, the top U.S. diplomat in Istanbul said on Thursday.

As Israel ramped up its ground and air assault on Lebanese armed group Hezbollah in recent weeks, the United States and several other countries have for now relied 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 in Istanbul.

“The security situation is dynamic, so we have been planning for months for all contingencies. Given the airport in Beirut remains operational and open, our 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 Oct. 2, according to another U.S. official.

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, adding she would next travel onward to Michigan.

Under an agreement with Ankara, U.S. travellers as well as those arriving on chartered flights from some other Western countries must depart Turkey within 72 hours of arrival.

Aside from those headed to Istanbul, two other U.S. chartered flights from Beirut arrived in Frankfurt and Doha in recent days, and authorities expect such flights will continue for the thousands of U.S. citizens still in Lebanon.

Washington – Israel’s key ally in the expanding Middle East conflict – could shift its focus to the more complicated and risky option of sea evacuations if the situation worsens in Lebanon and the airport is compromised. It has said additional 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.

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, adding many seats on those flights and on the chartered flights were left unfilled.

Eadeh, who also oversaw 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.”