Possible U.K. evac from Lebanon

New development on the Lebanon crisis: Des Broune has just sent two carriers to the Lebanese coast. One of them has at least 500 Marines onboard. Word is that they're planning an evacuation of British nationals from Lebanon. All other nearby countires have done it, looks like its our turn. Could we be seeing something like Operation Frequnet wind in Beirut? I wonder what kind of operation they would carry out for evacuation. By the way, this should not be part of the Gaza thread because this is about a possible British operation, not an Israeli one. This is solely about an evacuation from Lebanon. Heres the BBC article:

Thanks for posting that story ...

I have to wonder what plans the US has to evacuate it's citizens? I did read something about C-130's being dispached. It was not the USAF however....I can find little about this on line.

Found this ..the US is planning an air evac from Lebanon



U.S. plans 'air bridge' out of Lebanon, officials say
Americans urged to register with State Department

Saturday, July 15, 2006; Posted: 4:52 p.m. EDT (20:52 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Americans could be evacuated from Lebanon using an "air bridge" of fast-moving aircraft, U.S. military officials said Saturday.

Pentagon and U.S. State Department officials are working on contingency plans to get about 25,000 people out of Lebanon to escape Israel's military campaign, launched after two Israeli soldiers were kidnapped by Hezbollah guerrillas.

An "air bridge" is the term for planes that would move in swiftly and ferry people out in quick succession.

Planners are focusing on flying people from the Lebanese capital of Beirut to the island of Cyprus, officials said. (Watch what options the Pentagon has for the trapped Americans -- 1:59)

But the U.S. military is also looking at other options for any evacuation, considering whether it is possible to dock ships or land aircraft in Beirut, given the large number of Hezbollah militants there.

The Israeli bombing of the Beirut International Airport rendered it unusable, and has complicated planning.

"As of the morning of July 15, we are looking at how we might transport Americans to Cyprus," the State Department said Saturday.

"Once in Cyprus, Americans can then board commercial aircraft for onward travel. Commercial airlines provide the safest and most efficient repatriation options to final destinations," it said.

The State Department added that the government would not provide free transportation but could provide repatriation loans "to those in financial need."

The State Department has set up a Middle East Task Force to coordinate policy and share information.

Just wondering: Hezbullah is armed to the teeth with manpads. Is it really a safe idea to fly into Lebanon with helicopters? And if the US does strike back, it can really make the Shittes in Iraq very angry...just a thought that's all.

Actuallly crazy the US has sent two helos in with a team to plan an evac...I'm guess they came from Crete...



U.S. evacuation teams arrive in Lebanon

By ZEINA KARAM
Associated Press Writer

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) -- U.S. security teams arrived by helicopter Sunday at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut to start planning the evacuation of Americans from Lebanon.

Witnesses said two helicopters flew over the Mediterranean and landed on the embassy grounds, located on a fortified hilltop in the north Beirut suburb of Aukar.

"The arrival of the teams is an important first step in facilitating the safe departure of Americans who want to leave Lebanon," the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.

It said the teams would arrange for "secure transportation for American citizens who wish to depart Lebanon." There are an estimated 25,000 Americans living or working in Lebanon. U.S. officials said they assume that only a small number will choose to leave.

"We obviously have plans and contingency plans should we need to bring people out," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters at the Group of Eight summit in Russia. "I get reports on this every couple of hours as to how this is going. Our ambassador who is on the ground will obviously do what we need to protect Americans."

About 350 people - most of them Europeans - were evacuated Saturday night and early Sunday from Lebanon to the neighboring island of Cyprus aboard Italian military flights. The United States has said Americans also would be evacuated from Lebanon to Cyprus.

Israeli airstrikes have closed down Beirut's international airport and targeted the main highway to neighboring Syria. Israel also imposed a naval blockade on Lebanon.

The State Department said Friday that Americans in Lebanon should consider leaving when it was safe. Officials made contingency plans to evacuate people who cannot leave on their own. Family members and non-emergency American employees of the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon have been given permission to leave.

Israel began striking Lebanon after Hezbollah guerrillas captured two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid Wednesday. The guerrillas have struck back at Israeli cities, and on Sunday fired a barrage of rockets into the northern Israeli city of Haifa, escalating the conflict.

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you know, I just heard on the news that Canada has 10,000 citizens in Lebanon, yet we are not doing anything yet. the official government response is "we are drawing up a plan". Makes me sick.

tphuang said:

you know, I just heard on the news that Canada has 10,000 citizens in Lebanon, yet we are not doing anything yet. the official government response is "we are drawing up a plan". Makes me sick.

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Don't feel bad dude.. The US has 25,000 citizens in Lebanon. I saw C. Rice on Fox News this morning tap dancing around the question of evacuation of US citizens in Lebanon..But honestly she did say we have a "contingecy plan"..what ever that is..

tphuang said:

the official government response is "we are drawing up a plan".

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Seriously, though - what can the Canadian military do? It's navy is.... not really up to scratch, and I doubt it has any vessels that can respond. Does it have any useful military assets in the region? If not it'll be reliant on allied support, which would be why they're still trying to think what they can do.

It'll be like the fall of Saigon - foreigners will be clambering onto the helciopters landing on top of buildings and locals will try to escape with them while the Israeli military swarms through Lebanon. If there is going to be any mass evacuation at all, it will definetly be by air. If you read the article I posted, the Israelis have bombed the docks and made them unusable. An the naval blockade complicates things further. It will also definelty be by helicopters, since nearly all the major runways, including Beirut airport, have been neutralised.

DPRKPTboat said:

An the naval blockade complicates things further.

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There is no way the Israelis will impede an international rescue effort. What are they going to do against HMS Illustrious? It's not as if they can ram it off-course!

By the way, HMS Bulwark isn't a carrier - it's an LPD.

The French government is sending one frigate and one Amphibious assault ship which containing 4 Puma's and 20 VAB for a possible evacuation of the 17,000 French citizens. If the evacuation is launched they will be redirected to Cyprus.