Three British sisters have shared their distress at having to flee Lebanon, expressing that they felt they had “no choice” but to board a flight back to the UK. Amal Zahereddine, 18, along with her sisters Yasmine, 17, and Layla, 22, were among British nationals preparing to depart on a UK government charter flight from Beirut to Birmingham.

“Right now, there is no way we can stay,” Amal explained. “The noises, the situation, are just becoming very traumatizing, so we have no choice.” The family’s departure comes as Israel has intensified its aerial bombardments of Beirut, focusing on densely populated areas in the city’s southern region, which Israel claims are home to Hezbollah leaders and military assets.

In response to the escalating conflict, Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged British nationals in Lebanon to “leave immediately.” This advice came as fighting in the region reached alarming levels.

Speaking to the BBC from the airport in Beirut, Amal expressed her love for Lebanon and her sorrow at the need to leave. “We’re just going to stay hopeful that this situation won’t last long and that we’ll be able to return to our beloved country,” she said. Amal, who was born in Surrey and has spent the last five years living in Lebanon, mentioned that she and her sisters planned to reconnect with family in West Sussex.

Yasmine, still a student, reflected on the shock of having to leave, noting, “I never imagined we would have to go, but the situation has made it necessary.” Estimates from last week suggested that there were between 4,000 and 6,000 UK nationals, including their dependants, still in Lebanon.

The charter flight set to depart from Beirut would only be able to accommodate a small fraction of those needing to leave, prompting concerns about whether more flights would be necessary to assist the remaining British nationals.

The conflict has also seen other British citizens affected. Libby, a 25-year-old, shared her experience after taking a commercial flight from Beirut to Cairo on Wednesday morning. She described life in the Lebanese capital as “terrifying,” highlighting the constant anxiety people felt. “You can’t sleep because you can hear the Israeli drones overhead, and you wake up at night due to the strikes,” she recounted during an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

The ongoing conflict has escalated with Iranian involvement, as reports emerged of a missile attack against Israel, which Iran stated was partly in retaliation for the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, in a recent strike on Beirut. Following this incident, Defence Secretary John Healey remarked that British forces had contributed to efforts aimed at preventing further escalation in the region.

However, he did not provide specifics on British military actions. Sources indicate that British military jets did not intercept any Iranian ballistic missiles, nor did the Royal Navy Destroyer, HMS Duncan, fire any Sea Viper missiles during the incident.

Healey was reported to be in Cyprus, meeting with British personnel who were preparing for potential evacuations of UK nationals from Lebanon. In the meantime, the British government has advised citizens in Lebanon to register their presence on an official website to facilitate their evacuation.

As the situation continues to unfold, the plight of British nationals in Lebanon underscores the wider humanitarian crisis brought on by the ongoing conflict. The sisters’ story and the experiences of others like them highlight the personal toll of geopolitical tensions, forcing families to make heartbreaking decisions about leaving their homes and loved ones behind in search of safety.

The escalation of military action and the ensuing fear have left many in Lebanon feeling vulnerable and uncertain about the future. With the possibility of continued violence and the ongoing need for evacuations, the international community remains alert to the developments in the region. The sisters’ hopes of returning to Lebanon one day stand as a poignant reminder of the complex interplay between personal lives and the broader political landscape that can disrupt communities and families in an instant.

As they board their flight to the UK, Amal, Yasmine, and Layla carry with them the hope that they will soon return to the country they love, facing an uncertain future but clinging to the memories of their home in Lebanon.