British people in Lebanon have been urged to leave the country immediately following the invasion by Israel.
A UK Government chartered plane from Beirut landed in Birmingham on Wednesday evening, with more scheduled to depart on Thursday.
Israel invaded southern Lebanon on Monday, with the IDF saying they are looking to strike infrastructure of the militant group Hezbollah.
As of Wednesday night, eight Israeli soldiers had been killed in the fighting, while at least six people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on an apartment building in Beirut overnight.
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More than 150 British nationals and dependants were on the first UK Government-chartered flight out of Lebanon on Wednesday, the Foreign Office said.
A “limited number” of further flights from Beirut will take place from Thursday, continuing as long as the security situation allows.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “Recent events have demonstrated the volatility of the situation in Lebanon.
“The safety of British nationals in Lebanon continues to be our number one priority. That’s why we are announcing additional chartered flights to help those who want to leave.
“I urge all British nationals still in Lebanon to register with the FCDO (Foreign Office) and leave the country immediately.”
Lebanon’s ambassador to the UK Rami Mortada said Hezbollah is in a “self-defence position” and claimed Israel has been in a “provocative mode for years against Lebanon”.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “We should address this in a diplomatic way and everybody in Lebanon subscribed to this offer of considering all the grievances, all the concerns because we also have our concerns.
“The Israelis have been in a provocative mode now for years against Lebanon. They have been occupying part of our territory. So violence begets violence and when you provoke someone you would expect that they would provoke you back.”
When asked if he condemned Hezbollah for firing rockets into Israel, he said: “I condemn any act of violence but Hezbollah has not been committing violence … they were firing exclusively at military targets.”
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