Expectations of a quick evacuation of Germans from Lebanon dampened
The German government has tempered expectations of a swift evacuation of Germans from Lebanon. "It's not entirely likely that there will be a swift airlift," a spokesperson for the Foreign Office said on Wednesday in Berlin. The German government is again appealing to all those affected to leave as soon as possible on their own. Regarding an evacuation operation for Germans in Israel, the spokesperson pointed out that such an operation had already taken place after the Hamas attack in October. "We assume that those who are currently in Israel are fully aware of the situation," the spokesperson said. The German government is preparing for all scenarios.
An extensive attack by Iran and the Hezbollah militia allied with it in Lebanon on Israel has been feared in the Middle East for days. The background is the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the highest-ranking Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Lebanon.
Regarding Germans in Lebanon, the spokesperson said that around 2,900 people have registered on the crisis preparedness list of the German embassy. He again warned not to rely on an evacuation operation. "An evacuation operation is not an all-inclusive vacation with travel cancellation insurance," he said. It is "associated with risks and uncertainties and is by no means trouble-free."
The conditions for an evacuation in Lebanon are "significantly more difficult" than during the last such operation in 2006 during the then-war between Israel and the Hezbollah militia, the spokesperson said further. Unlike then, an exit via Syria is "not an option," the port of Beirut, which was severely damaged in large parts by a heavy explosion in 2020, is also "not fully operational." And even in 2006, the airport in Beirut could not be used because it was also one of the first targets of air attacks.
The German government continues to urge Germans in Lebanon to depart as soon as possible, acknowledging that foreign affairs involve complex situations and potential challenges. Given the current state of the port of Beirut and the historical unavailability of the airport during previous crises, any potential evacuation could be fraught with difficulties.
