Brits urged to flee Lebanon as 'situation could deteriorate rapidly'

David Lammy tonight urged British nationals to flee Lebanon as he warned the 'situation could deteriorate rapidly'.

The Foreign Secretary revealed he had spoken to Lebanon's PM Najib Mikati and 'expressed my deep concern over rising tensions and civilian casualties'.

It came after Israel said its warplanes struck southern Lebanon overnight and sonic booms shook the country's capital Beirut.

The leader of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese movement, today said deadly Israeli attacks that blew up the group's radios and pagers crossed all red lines.

In a social media post, Mr Lammy wrote: '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 continues to advise against all travel to Lebanon. 

Referring to his call with Mr Mikati, he added: 'We discussed the need for a negotiated solution to restore stability and security across the Blue Line.'

The 'Blue Line', drawn by the United Nations in 2000, separates Israel from southern Lebanon.

Lebanon and Hezbollah have blamed Israel for the attacks on communications equipment that killed 37 people and wounded around 3,000.

The attacks overwhelmed Lebanese hospitals and wreaked bloody havoc on the militant group.

'There is no doubt that we have been subjected to a major security and military blow that is unprecedented in the history of the resistance and unprecedented in the history of Lebanon,' Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said in a TV address.

'This type of killing, targeting and crime may be unprecedented in the world... The enemy went beyond all controls, laws and morals.'

He added the attacks 'could be considered war crimes or a declaration of war.'

Israel has not directly commented on the attacks, which are said to have probably been carried out by its Mossad spy agency, which has a long history of carrying out sophisticated attacks on foreign soil. 

It has deepened fears that all-out war could soon erupt between Lebanon and Israel, and across the wider Middle East.

Tensions have been high in the region ever since the October 7 terror attacks on Israel by Hamas, which has seen Israel wage war against the militants in Gaza.