British citizens urged to leave Lebanon while they still can

British nationals have been urged to leave Lebanon while they still can as tensions rise in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israeli jets caused sonic booms over Beirut as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah gave a speech today.

He was warning of retaliation against Israel for the sychronised detonations of pagers and hand-held radios, which killed 37 and injured 3,000 this week.

Today Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he expressed ‘deep concern over rising tensions and civilian casualties in Lebanon’ in a call with its Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

He urged British citizens to leave Lebanon, warning the situation could ‘deteriorate rapidly’.

He said: ‘My message to British nationals in Lebanon is leave while commercial options remain.

‘Tensions are high and the situation could deteriorate rapidly.’

The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Lebanon.

Low-flying Israeli warplanes broke the sound barrier today just as Nasrallah warned ‘the resistance in Lebanon will not stop’ until the war in Gaza ends.

A Sky News presenter initially mistook the powerful blasts, saying ‘I just heard a loud blast from somewhere behind me, I can hear airplanes’, as they scanned the sky.

In a sign of the panic gripping Lebanon after 11 months on the edge of all-out war, people could be seen rushing to open windows to avoid shattering glass.

Israel said it was striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

Lt Gen Herzi Halevi said: ‘For decades, Hezbollah has weaponized civilian homes, dug tunnels beneath them, and used civilians as human shields.’

Two children were among the 37 people killed in sychronised detonations of pagers and hand-held radios on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Roughly 3,000 people were injured, including civilians, in the explosions targeting Hezbollah operatives.

The attacks have been blamed on Israel, which called them ‘very impressive’.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said yesterday: ‘We are at the start of a new phase in the war — it requires courage, determination and perseverance.’

He added: ‘In the new phase of the war there are significant opportunities but also significant risks. Hezbollah feels that it is being persecuted and the sequence of military actions will continue.

‘Our goal is to ensure the safe return of Israel’s northern communities to their homes. As time goes by, Hezbollah will pay an increasing price.’

Meanwhile Hezbollah accused Israel of crossing a red line with the attacks.

Nasrallah said: ‘Some of the explosions took place in hospitals, pharmacies, clinics, homes, cars and streets where many civilians are present.’

Fears are rising that the conflict, largely confined to lobbing missiles over the border into northern Israel and southern Lebanon, will escalate further.

Israel warned it could ramp up its military operation against Hezbollah, which launched a rocket campaign in support of its allies Hamas in Gaza, both backed by Iran.

The UK and other Western countries have urged restraint.

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