Second Flight Leaves Beirut to Take Brazilians Home

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (C) welcomes citizens fleeing the conflict between Israel and Lebanon on arrival from Beirut on the first rescue flight of the Brazilian government, at Sao Paulo Air Base in Guarulhos, Sao Paulo state, Brazil on October 6, 2024. (AFP)
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (C) welcomes citizens fleeing the conflict between Israel and Lebanon on arrival from Beirut on the first rescue flight of the Brazilian government, at Sao Paulo Air Base in Guarulhos, Sao Paulo state, Brazil on October 6, 2024. (AFP)
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Second Flight Leaves Beirut to Take Brazilians Home

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (C) welcomes citizens fleeing the conflict between Israel and Lebanon on arrival from Beirut on the first rescue flight of the Brazilian government, at Sao Paulo Air Base in Guarulhos, Sao Paulo state, Brazil on October 6, 2024. (AFP)
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (C) welcomes citizens fleeing the conflict between Israel and Lebanon on arrival from Beirut on the first rescue flight of the Brazilian government, at Sao Paulo Air Base in Guarulhos, Sao Paulo state, Brazil on October 6, 2024. (AFP)

The second repatriation flight organized by the Brazilian government to assist its nationals left Beirut on Monday, according to a statement from the Brazilian air force.

The plane carrying 227 Brazilians, including 49 children, will stop for fuel in Lisbon before heading to Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos airport, where it is due to arrive Tuesday.

The plane took Lebanon medical and hospital supplies donated by Brazil, Brazil’s foreign ministry said Monday, adding that more will follow in future flights.

The first repatriation flight landed in Sao Paulo on Sunday. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was on site to greet those fleeing the violence.

About 21,000 Brazilians live in Lebanon, which is home to the largest community of Brazilians in the Middle East. Two Brazilian adolescents have been killed by Israeli bombardments in Lebanon.

In a separate statement, Brazil's foreign ministry called “for the immediate release of all hostages and for negotiations that lead to a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.”



Israeli Defense Minister Will Hold Talks in Washington

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant addresses a press conference with his German counterpart after signing a Declaration of Intent on the ARROW 3 missile defense project at the Defense Ministry in Berlin on September 28, 2023. (AFP)
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant addresses a press conference with his German counterpart after signing a Declaration of Intent on the ARROW 3 missile defense project at the Defense Ministry in Berlin on September 28, 2023. (AFP)
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Israeli Defense Minister Will Hold Talks in Washington

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant addresses a press conference with his German counterpart after signing a Declaration of Intent on the ARROW 3 missile defense project at the Defense Ministry in Berlin on September 28, 2023. (AFP)
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant addresses a press conference with his German counterpart after signing a Declaration of Intent on the ARROW 3 missile defense project at the Defense Ministry in Berlin on September 28, 2023. (AFP)

Israel’s defense minister will travel to Washington this week for talks at the Pentagon.

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters at the Pentagon on Monday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is having regular discussions with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. He said the conversations include what Israel’s next steps will be.

Noting that Gallant will be in the Pentagon to meet with Austin this week, he said the visit “provides the opportunity for ongoing discussions in more depth.” Austin, he said, will also continue to stress the importance of talking civilian safety into account.

Asked if the US has gotten assurances from the Israelis that they will give the Biden administration a heads up as they conduct major operations, Ryder said the US has been clear that “it’s helpful to be able to have awareness about activities in the region for several reasons. One, to ensure that we can protect Americans and US forces throughout the region in terms of potential second, third order effects.”

“But then also as we work to support the defense of Israel,” he stressed.

Ryder would not comment on what the US may or may not do if Israel strikes nuclear or other key targets in Iran. He said Austin agrees with President Joe Biden in opposition to strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran.

He said the US continues to work to prevent the conflict from expanding into a wider regional war. But he stressed that the US supports Israel’s efforts to defend itself against Hamas, through operations in Gaza, and against Hezbollah, through strikes in Lebanon.