oct 2, 2024 - First Chartered Flight Evacuates British Nationals from Lebanon

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A British woman who was among more than 150 people to be evacuated from Lebanon on Wednesday has described her anguish at leaving her life in the Middle Eastern country behind.

Isobel Taper told the BBC: "My life is out there, so it feels strange being back here."

The 31-year-old arrived in Birmingham on board the first flight chartered by the UK government, after it urged UK nationals to leave immediately amid escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Even though she is now staying with her parents in Ealing, west London, Ms Taper said she feels guilty for leaving her boyfriend and cats in Lebanon.

"Everything just feels very surreal," she said.

Since Wednesday's flight, the UK government has said it will charter a "limited" number of flights from Beirut to evacuate "hundreds" of British nationals and their dependents.

The Foreign Office said the flights would continue "as long as the security situation allows", with more departing on Thursday.

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