US organizes evacuations, emergency services from Lebanon: Over 1,000 Americans reach Turkey

Since September 28, the US has secured more than 5,000 airplane seats for US citizens, permanent residents, and their families to depart Lebanon, the US government announced in a statement on Thursday. 

Some of these actions include reserving seats daily on commercial flights as well as providing seats on US government-organized flights. 

The State Department stated that it is assisting US citizens with on-site US consular services to help with travel and providing emergency loans for relocation or other emergency needs. 

The US Embassy in Beirut remains open to process emergency passports and other services, the government stated. 

Since July 31, the US State Department has classified Lebanon with a Level 4 advisory, which warns Americans to avoid traveling to Lebanon due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, unexploded landmines, and the risk of armed conflicts. 

Americans evacuated via Turkey 

More than 1,000 Americans and their dependents have fled Lebanon's escalating war aboard US chartered flights in the last week, arriving in Turkey for a temporary stay, the top US diplomat in Istanbul said on Thursday.

As Israel ramped up its ground and air assault on Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah in recent weeks, the United States and several other countries have for now relied on commercial and state-booked flights to get citizens out, primarily via Turkey.

"It's the fastest, safest way to get Americans out of harm's way," Consul General Julie Eadeh said in an interview in Istanbul.

"The security situation is dynamic, so we have been planning for months for all contingencies. Given the airport in Beirut remains operational and open, our focus is on facilitating departures by air."

According to another US official, ten of 12 US chartered flights from Beirut have arrived in Istanbul carrying 1,025 citizens and immediate family members since Oct. 2.