Americans in Lebanon frustrated by flight cancellations and high costs.
The United States has decided against initiating an evacuation of its citizens from Lebanon, despite an earlier advisory urging Americans to leave the country. The lack of evacuation plans has left many U.S. nationals stranded in Beirut, facing difficulties in securing flights as Israel’s bombing campaign continues in the region.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby addressed the situation in an interview with ABC News, stating that the U.S. State Department does not currently see a need for an evacuation. The decision comes in the wake of increasing air strikes in Beirut by Israel, where the death toll has surpassed 1,100.
On 22 September, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut issued an advisory urging citizens to leave Lebanon while commercial flights were still available. Just a few days later, the embassy updated its guidance, ordering the departure of some staff members and their families. However, by the morning of 29 September, the embassy made it clear that no government-organised evacuation flights would be provided for U.S. citizens. Instead, individuals must book any available flights directly with the airlines.
This has led to a considerable amount of frustration among U.S. citizens currently in Lebanon, who have taken to social media to express their concerns. Many report that flight cancellations have become a frequent issue, with commercial routes rapidly becoming unavailable. One U.S. citizen, Amy Fallas, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that she had been trying for weeks to secure a flight to nearby countries without success. “The flights keep getting cancelled,” Fallas stated, “and the embassy keeps sending the same useless information about commercial options that don’t exist.”
Egyptair, Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Qatar Airways are among the airlines this week that have now suspended flights to and from Beirut due to the unstable security situation, according to Reuters and Al Arabiya.
In addition, Britain has advised U.K.-based airlines not to fly into Lebanese airspace until Nov. 4, citing a “potential risk to aviation from military activity”.
Criticism of the State Department has also emerged from political representatives, such as Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. She highlighted the high cost of the few flights that remain available, with reports indicating some tickets cost up to $8,000. Tlaib stated that when she brought the issue to the State Department’s attention, they offered to provide loans to those who could not afford the high prices.
This situation draws a contrast to the U.S. response in the aftermath of October 7, when the State Department organised evacuation flights for Americans in Israel. U.S. citizens were given the option to leave via chartered ships to Cyprus or flights to Europe.
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