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Germany evacuates embassy staff in Beirut and German citizens

2024-09-30 20:25:53, Kosova & Bota CNA

Germany evacuated from Lebanon non-essential staff of its embassy in Beirut, their dependents and some German citizens with various medical needs.

About 110 passengers traveled on September 30 on the German air force A321, including diplomats, other staff members and some citizens who were considered vulnerable, according to the AFP news agency.

The Foreign and Defense Ministries previously announced the special flight from conflict-hit Lebanon "to support the departure of colleagues and their families", as well as staff from several German partner organisations.

"German citizens who are particularly at risk due to medical conditions are also being evacuated," the statement said.

Israel has bombed Iranian-backed Hezbollah targets in attacks that have killed hundreds and forced hundreds of thousands more to flee their homes. Hezbollah is a militant group and political party that controls most of southern Lebanon.

The embassy in Beirut remains operational to assist the approximately 1,800 German citizens in the country.

"The embassy continues to support the Germans remaining in Lebanon in their departure through commercial flights and other means," the statement continued.

At the weekend, Berlin raised the alert level for missions in Beirut, Tel Aviv and Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

A German government spokesman said on Monday that "we are currently at a stage where we support the departure (of citizens), but we are not in an evacuation scenario".

The statement reiterated that "all Germans in Lebanon have been notified to leave the country as of October 2023."

Hezbollah - designated a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union has blacklisted its armed wing but not its political party - launched cross-border attacks on Israeli troops a day after an unprecedented attack by its Palestinian ally Hamas. against Israel on October 7, sparking war in the Gaza Strip.

Israel said earlier this month it was shifting focus from Gaza to securing its northern border with Lebanon to allow displaced Israelis to return to their homes.

Hezbollah vowed on Monday to continue fighting Israel and said it was ready to face any ground operation in Lebanon, after the killing of its leader in an airstrike dealt the group a severe blow./ REL