Lebanon repatriation flight postponed due to lack of security

The first flight to repatriate Brazilians in Lebanon was postponed by 24 hours after Israel carried out a series of new attacks in Beirut in the early hours of Friday 4. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it had taken the decision for security reasons. .

“As a result of the need for additional security measures for land trains that will head to the airport in the Lebanese capital, the operation of the first Brazilian repatriation flight will not take place today,” informed Itamaraty.

With the postponement, the new forecast, therefore, is that the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) aircraft that will bring more than 200 Brazilians who are at the epicenter of the conflict in the Middle East will be able to take off on Saturday 5th. According to TV Globo, which spoke to sources involved in the mission, the flight should depart Lebanon at 2 pm (Brasília time). For now, the aircraft is in Lisbon, Portugal, awaiting further guidance.

Before confirming the postponement, Mauro Vieira was questioned by journalists about the safety of the FAB plane’s landing.

“What I wanted to say is that the guarantees will be given by the legal authorities. If there is an episode that does not allow for the landing, of course it will be postponed. This will be the result of constant meetings, meetings and consultations with authorities”, said the minister.

The plane that is part of the rescue operation called Raízes do Cedro took off from Galeão Air Base, in Rio de Janeiro, in the early hours of this Wednesday (2) and arrived in Portugal in the morning of the same day.

The forecast is that, on this first flight, 220 Brazilians will be removed from Lebanese territory, affected by the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Priority will be given to the elderly, women, children and people in need of medical assistance.

“First non-resident Brazilians, then resident Brazilians. And, within these categories, the elderly, pregnant women, children, people with disabilities and patients of all forms are established by law”, explained the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira.