The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon has issued a warning to American citizens to secure any available flights out of the country due to the rapidly escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Most airlines have either suspended or canceled flights, and many are sold out; however, limited commercial transportation options still remain.
The Embassy recommended that those wishing to leave Lebanon book any available tickets, even if the departure is not immediate or the route is not their first choice. It also advised U.S. citizens who decide to stay to prepare for emergencies and be ready to shelter in place for an extended period.
The situation has intensified with the Israeli military and Hezbollah exchanging rocket fire across the Israel-Lebanon border. Recent explosions targeted at Hezbollah members led Lebanese authorities to ban pagers and walkie-talkies on flights departing from Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport.
The U.S. Embassy in Beirut announced that American citizens without sufficient funds to return to the U.S. could contact the Embassy for financial assistance through repatriation loans. It emphasized that U.S.-assisted evacuations are rare and citizens should not rely on government-assisted departures or evacuations during a crisis. In case of an evacuation, citizens may not be able to leave with extended family or pets, and will need to reimburse the U.S. government for transportation to safety.
Due to the unstable security situation, numerous airlines have been canceling flights to Lebanon. Lufthansa Group, including its subsidiaries such as Lufthansa Airlines, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings, announced that flights to Beirut would be suspended until October 26, 2024.