Türkiye to start evacuating citizens from Lebanon by Oct. 9
TCG-Anadolu, which has the capacity to serve as a hospital ship within the Turkish Naval Forces Command (Orhan Cicek - Anadolu Agency)
Türkiye has announced the start of an evacuation operation to bring back its citizens from Lebanon, as tensions continue to rise in the region. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the evacuation will commence by Oct. 9, with two navy vessels being dispatched to Beirut.
In a statement released today, the ministry said, “In this context, it is planned that two of our Navy ships will set off for Beirut today. The total capacity of our ships is approximately 2,000 passengers.”
The evacuation will focus on Turkish nationals who have contacted the consular call center reqesting a safe return to Türkiye.
Further evacuation details
The ministry noted that detailed information about the evacuation process will be shared with citizens who have registered their interest.
If necessary, the Turkish government is prepared to continue evacuation operations in the following days, ensuring all citizens who wish to return are safely transported.
Preparations for citizens’ arrival
Türkiye has completed preparations to meet the needs of citizens upon their arrival back home. According to the Foreign Ministry, “Preparations have been completed to meet any needs that may arise upon our citizens’ arrival in our country.”
The two navy ships assigned for the evacuation will also be transporting humanitarian aid to Lebanon, underscoring Türkiye’s ongoing support for the country amid its difficulties. The ministry confirmed, “The ships assigned for the evacuation will also carry humanitarian aid to Lebanon.”
