Belgian Military Aircraft Evacuate 111 People From Lebanon

Belgian Military/PHOTO via Instagram @defensie.ladefense

JAKARTA - The Belgian military plane has evacuated 111 people from Lebanon. The evacuation was carried out amid continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon

Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lhabib said flights from Beirut to Brussels brought 58 Belgian citizens and those with permanent residence rights as well as 53 Europeans, Lahbib said on social media platform X.

As Israel stepped up ground and airstrikes against Lebanese armed group Hezbollah in recent weeks, several countries have sought to expel their citizens, sometimes relying on commercial flights through Turkey.

Israel is still continuing its military operations in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah.

Most recently, an Israeli attack killed five rescue workers in southern Lebanon. Now Lebanon is seeking a ceasefire.

Lebanese Health Ministry said last night's Israeli attack hit a civilian defense center in Derdghaiya village, about 10 km (6 miles) from the border, killing five paramedics and rescue workers.

There has been no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

Reported by Reuters on Thursday, October 10, Lebanese interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati said contacts were being made between the United States and France with the aim of reviving the ceasefire.

The Middle East remains wary of further escalation of the conflict that has hit the region since a Hamas-led attack on Israel last year, pending Israel's response to an Iranian missile attack last week.

US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Wednesday about the potential retaliation of Israel against Iran.

Israel said its attack in Lebanon aimed to secure the return of tens of thousands of Israelis displaced from northern Israel due to a cross-border rocket launched by Hezbollah, which opened fire a year ago in support of Hamas in Gaza.

Israeli attacks have killed more than 2,100 people in Lebanon over the past year, most of them killed since September 23, when Israel dramatically stepped up its attacks with extensive airstrikes before sending troops ashore. The number of victims did not differentiate between civilians and combatants.