Get out now: Brits in Lebanon told to inform UK authorities they are there and leave as soon as possible in the wake of the Israeli ground invasion and fighting with Hezbollah

Any Brits in Lebanon should get out as soon as they can, ministers have said, as Israeli forces begin their invasion of the country. 

Defence Secretary John Healey told people to leave Lebanon immediately, as intense fighting began between Israeli Defence Force troops and Hezbollah fighters.

The UK Government has chartered a flight out of Lebanon for Britons wanting to leave as Israel said it had begun what it called a limited, localised operation in the southern part of the country.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the situation in Lebanon as volatile and with the potential to deteriorate quickly as the flight, due to leave Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Wednesday, was confirmed.

UK authorities want all Brits in the country to get in touch for help, via the Foreign Office website. 

Mr Lammy reiterated calls for Britons in Lebanon to leave and said the Government will do all that we can to assist people in fleeing.

Israeli army tanks manoeuvre in a staging area in northern Israel near the Israel-Lebanon border,

Defence Secretary John Healey told people to leave Lebanon immediately, as intense fighting began between Israeli Defence Force troops and Hezbollah fighters.

Mr Lammy reiterated calls for Britons in Lebanon to leave and said the Government will do all that we can to assist people in fleeing.

In a brief announcement released in the early hours of this morning by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), the military said it was targeting Hezbollah in areas close to the border between the two nations.

The IDF added that air force and artillery units were carrying out attacks to support forces on the ground.

A few hours ago, the IDF began limited, localised and targeted ground raids, it said.

These targets are located in villages close to the border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel.

The IDF gave no details as to how long the operation in southern Lebanon would last, but it did say its army had been training and preparing to cross the border to fight for months.

British nationals and their spouses, partners and children under 18 are eligible for the UK flight, and those who are vulnerable will be prioritised.

Mr Lammy said: The situation in Lebanon is volatile and has potential to deteriorate quickly.

The safety of British nationals in Lebanon continues to be our utmost priority. Thats why the UK Government is chartering a flight to help those wanting to leave. It is vital that you leave now as further evacuation may not be guaranteed.

Speaking to broadcasters earlier on Monday evening, Mr Lammy said: We will do all that we can to assist people to get out and we have secured places on commercial flights that are flying tomorrow so that UK nationals can get out.

I urge them to leave because the situation on the ground is fast-moving.

He added: And of course, whilst we will do everything we can to protect British nationals – and those plans are in place to do so – we cannot anticipate the circumstances and the speed with which we could do that if things escalate in a major way over the coming hours and days.

A man walks past damaged buildings at the site of an overnight Israeli airstrike on the Laylaki neighbourhood in Beiruts southern suburbs this morning

Mr Lammy chaired a ministerial meeting of the Cobra emergency committee on Monday to discuss the crisis.

There are an estimated 5,000 British citizens in Lebanon and the Government says it is working on all contingency options.

British military assets have been deployed to Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean in case an evacuation is required, although ministers and officials have stressed that Britons should leave immediately.

On Monday, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said Sir Keir Starmer has been very, very clear that British nationals should leave now, particularly whilst commercial flights are still available.

The spokesman told reporters: Were doing everything we can to work with commercial airlines to maximise capacity because we want people to leave, and I understand that there have been extra Middle East Airlines flights leaving Lebanon over the weekend, another scheduled for Tuesday, and we have secured seats for British nationals on those flights.

It is understood around 15 spaces for British nationals were secured on a flight which arrived on Sunday, and a further 40 on the flight due to leave on Tuesday.

The spokesman said the focus is on securing extra spaces on commercial flights for those who do want to leave and reiterating our calls for those to leave and to register their presence with us and book the first available flights.

Meanwhile, the families of Israeli hostages kidnapped on October 7 have said the UK Government must do more to help bring them home.

Speaking at a press conference, relatives said a deal must be struck urgently with Hamas to bring people home.

During a meeting with Sir Keir and Mr Lammy on Monday, the Prime Minister agreed that the hostages must be freed and returned immediately, the conference was told.

Sharone Lifschitz, whose parents Yocheved and Oded Lifschitz were kidnapped, said she felt encouraged by the meeting, but urged the Government to do more.

They listened carefully to what we said, she said. But I think the British Government can and should do more.

They must treat (the hostages) as if they are their own.

Tory leadership hopeful James Cleverly has said he supports Israels military incursion into Lebanon.

Asked on Sky News if he supports Israels ground operation in Lebanon, the former foreign secretary said: I do, and the reason why is what I have always said, Israel has the right to defend itself.

Israel has been at the receiving end of rockets from Hamas, who are embedded within Lebanese society. I love Lebanon. Ive been to Beirut.

Ive spoken with representatives of many of the parts of Lebanese society on a very, very regular basis.

But Hezbollah are doing huge damage, not just to Israel, but to the Lebanese people.

Those rockets have been raining down for months, and Israel has now taken action.

My support has always come with the caveat that Israel must continue to adhere to international humanitarian law. They absolutely have the right to defend themselves.