Türkiye to evacuate citizens from Lebanon Amid ongoing conflict

Türkiye will begin evacuating its citizens who have requested to leave Lebanon by sea on October 9, the Foreign Ministry said.

Two Turkish Navy vessels, capable of carrying a total of 2,000 passengers, are scheduled to set sail for Beirut today. The ministry indicated that the evacuation efforts would continue in the following days if necessary, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

Since Israel initiated strikes against Lebanon, citing the need to combat Hezbollah, over 1,400 individuals have already reached Türkiye via sea. On October 6, 26 passengers disembarked from a ferry at the Port of Taşucu in the southern province of Mersin.

These included Turkish nationals and various foreign residents from Lebanon, where the conflict has affected areas as far as Beirut's suburbs. Many of these evacuees are expected to travel to third countries from Türkiye, especially as numerous flights have been canceled due to the ongoing unrest, prompting more individuals to opt for maritime travel.

The Foreign Ministry stated that the Turkish Consulate in Beirut would provide citizens with detailed information regarding the evacuation process. Additionally, it confirmed that humanitarian aid from Türkiye would be transported to Lebanon on the evacuation ships.

According to ministry sources, approximately 2,500 Turkish nationals in Lebanon have requested evacuation. All applicants have been contacted to confirm their decisions, allowing plans to be adjusted accordingly. As a result, two ships with a capacity of 2,000 people were deemed sufficient for the initial phase of the evacuation.

Despite international warnings that the Middle East region is on the brink of a regional war amid Israel's relentless attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, Tel Aviv expanded the conflict by launching a ground invasion into southern Lebanon on October 1.

Turkish authorities announced last week that they were ready for a possible evacuation of Turks from Lebanon via air and sea and were working with about 20 countries for possible evacuation of foreign nationals via Türkiye. About 14,000 Turkish citizens were registered at the consulate in Lebanon, but the number was not definitive.

The country’s proximity to Lebanon also made it a hub of evacuations. The US State Department said 145 passengers travelled Saturday on two flights organized out of Lebanon. A State Department spokesperson noted that each flight from Beirut to Istanbul could carry 300 passengers, a total capacity of 600.

By Vafa Guliyeva