David Lammy is currently conducting an analysis of various contingency tactics for the purpose of carrying out the evacuation of British residents who are still present in Lebanon. During the ongoing crisis with Israel, Lammy has previously suggested to inhabitants of the United Kingdom that they should think about leaving the nation because of the situation.
The Foreign Secretary is expected to preside over discussions in Whitehall on Friday. These sessions will be held in order to devise strategies for mitigating the risk of a recurrence of the upheaval that occurred in Afghanistan in 2021, which was characterised by the Taliban’s takeover and the subsequent evacuation of British nationals.
Regarding the growing tensions and the attendant civilian losses that have been reported in the region, Lammy expressed his apprehension in response to Israel’s airstrikes that targeted Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon on Thursday.
He emphasised the warning that the Foreign Office had previously issued to British nationals, urging them to leave Lebanon “while commercial options remain” in light of the current situation, which has the potential to rapidly deteriorate.
Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Hezbollah, has issued a warning of potential vengeance in response to the attacks on Lebanese militants that involved explosive devices. These attacks have resulted in a significant number of casualties and injuries around the country.
Thursday evening, Lammy claimed having a conversation with Najib Mikati, the Prime Minister of Lebanon. Lammy was present during the conversation. During the course of the conversation, Lammy expressed a substantial amount of concern regarding the developing tensions and the growing number of civilian casualties in Lebanon.
He said that discussions had taken place regarding the requirement of a negotiated settlement with the goal of restoring calm and security along the border between Israel and Lebanon.
Israeli aeroplanes carried out a number of attacks throughout southern Lebanon late on Thursday night. These strikes were carried out in reaction to Nasrallah’s threat of “tough retribution and just punishment” in response to the series of bombs that targeted the organisation with explosives placed in pagers and walkie-talkies. Aircraft belonging to the Israeli military were responsible for carrying out these attacks.
It was reported by the Israeli military that hundreds of missile launchers had been destroyed, and they stated that these assets were supposed to be deployed in the near future.
Over fifty-two strikes were carried out in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanon National Agency (NNA), which is the state-owned news agency of Lebanon. According to three reliable sources within the Lebanese security sector, the most recent strikes constitute the most massive aerial bombardments that have been recorded since the beginning of the conflict in October.
As a result of the attack that Hamas carried out against Israel on October 7 and the accompanying military reaction that Israel carried out in Gaza, Hezbollah has resumed its offensive activities. When it comes to Hamas and Hezbollah, Iran is the body that provides backing to both of them.