UK begins evacuating citizens from Lebanon as Israel’s offensive continues

First charter flight has left Beirut, says David Lammy, with officials planning sea and air' rescues if situation worsens

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The UK has laid on a charter flight to evacuate Britons from Lebanon and said it is ready to commission more for the 5,000 nationals and their dependants remaining in the country.

Beirut's international airport remains open but ministers and officials are preparing contingency plans for sea and air rescues via Cyprus should the security situation in Lebanon deteriorate to the point at which commercial flights are stopped.