Amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, more than 1,100 US citizens, legal permanent residents, and their family members have been evacuated on US-organized flights. The US State Department has been actively coordinating these evacuation efforts.
According to a State Department spokesperson, multiple flights have been arranged to transport individuals from Beirut to Istanbul. One flight departed last night, followed by another this morning. The flight this morning carried around 50 passengers, while the previous night's flight had approximately 13 to 14 passengers on board.
Although the flights have not reached their full capacity of 300 passengers per plane, the State Department intends to continue these evacuation operations in response to the demand for assistance. The availability of commercial flights out of Lebanon is also being considered as part of the ongoing assessment.
The US has secured approximately 1,000 seats on commercial flights for American citizens, legal permanent residents, and their families, an increase from the previous day's allocation of 900 seats. In total, including the seats on commercial flights, a combined total of 4,600 seats have been made available for evacuation purposes.
The State Department remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of US citizens and their relatives affected by the conflict in Lebanon. Evacuation efforts will continue to be monitored and adjusted based on the evolving situation on the ground.
