Posted on 07/16/2006 8:39:10 AM PDT by SmithL
BEIRUT, Lebanon - U.S. security teams arrived by helicopter Sunday at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut to start planning the evacuation of Americans from Lebanon.
Witnesses said two helicopters flew over the Mediterranean and landed on the embassy grounds, located on a fortified hilltop in the north Beirut suburb of Aukar.
"The arrival of the teams is an important first step in facilitating the safe departure of Americans who want to leave Lebanon," the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.
It said the teams would arrange for "secure transportation for American citizens who wish to depart Lebanon." There are an estimated 25,000 Americans living or working in Lebanon. U.S. officials said they assume that only a small number will choose to leave.
"We obviously have plans and contingency plans should we need to bring people out," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters at the Group of Eight summit in Russia. "I get reports on this every couple of hours as to how this is going. Our ambassador who is on the ground will obviously do what we need to protect Americans."
About 350 people - most of them Europeans - were evacuated Saturday night and early Sunday from Lebanon to the neighboring island of Cyprus aboard Italian military flights. The United States has said Americans also would be evacuated from Lebanon to Cyprus.
Israeli airstrikes have closed down Beirut's international airport and targeted the main highway to neighboring Syria. Israel also imposed a naval blockade on Lebanon.
The State Department said Friday that Americans in Lebanon should consider leaving when it was safe. Officials made contingency plans to evacuate people who cannot leave on their own. Family members and non-emergency American employees of the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon have been given permission to leave.
Israel began striking Lebanon after Hezbollah guerrillas captured two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid Wednesday. The guerrillas have struck back at Israeli cities, and on Sunday fired a barrage of rockets into the northern Israeli city of Haifa, escalating the conflict.
Hope Rebel Yell can get out of there soon.
God bless their trip home.
Well, call me evil if you want to, but I certainly hope that whining woman they keep interviewing on FNC is the last one on the helicopter.
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel.
also Keywords 2006israelwar or WOT [War on Terror]
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I agree with you. She was obnoxious with a capital O.
Bad thought... if Iran really wants all out war look for one/two of these flights to go down.
I've been thinking the EXACT same thing. I look for the evacuation choppers to have trouble getting out of there. And I suspect the State Dept does, too. Which explains why the whining woman is still there.
Could someone who understands the munitions typically found on helicopters please discuss it, and explain what sort of protection they can be expected to have on board? TIA
Anyone heard from Rebel Yell in the last couple of days?
His name is Rebel_Yell2 and if you type his name in the search function, you can see what he's been reporting. It's well worth doing, since he's on the scene.
Still here in Beirut. Sunday evening and it is extremely quiet. Normally the waterfront would be packed; today it was almost deserted. Very few explosions today. A few more days and I hope to be reporting from Cyprus on my way home to Chicago.
I'm praying hard for that evacuation, Rebel. Thank you for checking in.
We have another live thread going today and I'll post your message there.
The thread is here is you want to say hi:
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666537/posts?q=1&&page=1001
My sister was there in the late eighties and told stories about the New Jersey off the coast lobbing shells over the city. Hope it stays quiet for your sake. She did get six weeks in Cyprus on a sailboat when they evacuated back then. Hope yours goes smoothly.
Glad to see you posting. We've been praying for you and others in this situation. Can't wait to see you posting from somewhere else. I do believe help is on the way.
Wooohooo! Finally some good news!
bttt
Glad to see your still hangin in there! There's constant blather on the news but, there appears your standard 'need to know' is in effect. Hope you get out soon!
My thoughts exactly.
First prize - One round trip ticket to Beirut.
Second prize - Two round trip tickets to Beirut.
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