Türkiye Says It Will Evacuate Its Citizens from Lebanon by Sea on Wednesday

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike at Dahieh Hadath area in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, late 07 October 2024. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike at Dahieh Hadath area in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, late 07 October 2024. (EPA)
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Türkiye Says It Will Evacuate Its Citizens from Lebanon by Sea on Wednesday

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike at Dahieh Hadath area in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, late 07 October 2024. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike at Dahieh Hadath area in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, late 07 October 2024. (EPA)

Turkish navy ships will evacuate Turks who have applied to leave Lebanon by sea on Wednesday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

The two ships were expected to set off for Beirut on Tuesday with a total capacity of around 2,000 passengers, the ministry said in a statement.

It said the evacuation process will continue in the following days if necessary, adding that the ships carrying out the evacuation will also transport humanitarian aid to Lebanon.

A foreign ministry source said that around 2,500 Turkish citizens had applied to be evacuated from Lebanon but that after checks it was determined that a ship capacity of 2,000 would be sufficient.

The naval ships will set off on Tuesday from Türkiye’s eastern Mediterranean province of Mersin, the source said.

Türkiye had previously said it was working with around 20 countries on preparing for a possible evacuation of foreign nationals via Türkiye.

Hundreds of people of various nationalities arrived in Türkiye from Lebanon last week on a commercial ferry.



France, Qatar Deliver Urgent Aid to Lebanon, Foreign Minister Says

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati meets with French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot in Beirut on September 30, 2024. (AFP)
Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati meets with French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot in Beirut on September 30, 2024. (AFP)
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France, Qatar Deliver Urgent Aid to Lebanon, Foreign Minister Says

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati meets with French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot in Beirut on September 30, 2024. (AFP)
Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati meets with French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot in Beirut on September 30, 2024. (AFP)

France and Qatar delivered urgent humanitarian aid to Lebanon on Tuesday, France's foreign minister said, as Paris pushes for broader humanitarian efforts and a ceasefire in the country.

"If we don't do anything, then Lebanon tomorrow could resemble what Syria has become," Jean-Noel Barrot told lawmakers in parliament. "(That is), a hub of instability for smuggling, terrorism and a point of departure for a large migration of civilians seeking refuge in Europe."

French and Qatari military planes delivered some 27 metric tons of medicines and basic necessities, including blankets and hygiene kits, diplomatic sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Paris has historical ties with Lebanon and has been working with the United States in trying to secure a ceasefire in the Middle Eastern country. Those talks stalled at the end of September when Israel heavily bombed Beirut's southern suburbs, killing longtime Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.

It has since launched a ground offensive displacing thousands of people. Tuesday's Franco-Qatari aid aims to support local aid groups to help the wounded and displaced.

The two sides must accept the ceasefire proposal, Barrot said, to "give peace and negotiations a chance to guarantee the sovereignty of Lebanon and security for Israel."

France is also working to put together a conference on Lebanon soon that will center around three pillars: humanitarian aid, reinforcing the Lebanese army and discussing the ongoing political vacuum in the country, Barrot said.