France on Sunday asked its nationals to “leave Lebanon as soon as possible.” Franceinfo asked these French people the question, as the threat of war with Israel has grown in recent days.
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Faced with fears of escalation in the Middle East, France is inviting its nationals to “leave Lebanon as soon as possible”. The order was given by the Quai d’Orsay, while Iran and Lebanon have promised a response against Israel after the assassinations of the leader of Hamas and the military leader of Lebanese Hezbollah. Faced with this uncertain situation, French nationals find themselves facing a dilemma: should they leave the country, and if so, how? Franceinfo asked them the question.
France is therefore urging its more than 20,000 nationals to leave Lebanon as soon as possible. Laurent, a Frenchman who often travels to the country, has no plans to leave, however. “I’m changing my plans a little bit, spending a little less time in Beirut and a little more time in the mountains. So for now, I’m staying and trying not to think about it.”he assures.
Since October, France has asked its citizens to leave the country for the third time. But at the same time, the airlines Air France and Transavia have suspended their lines from Beirut airport, the only one operating in the country. A problem that Line noticed, while visiting the Lebanese capital with her four-year-old son and her husband. “We eventually found a flight via Doha, Qatar, for 12,000 euros for three people. The prices are astronomical, she laments. And even so, there is no availability for several days and a strike (Israeli) could happen much sooner. The airport could close.”
During the last war in 2006, Beirut airport was the first target of the Israeli army. This scenario worries Western chancelleries, because it would make evacuations even more difficult. By asking their nationals for these early departures, the embassies hope to prevent the catastrophic scenario of the evacuation of tens of thousands of people.
