222:
36:
322:. The UK Government started to work on plans to use either an air or seabridge to evacuate British nationals. Whilst both warring sides attacked each other, Britons were advised to lie-low until the navy ships arrived. People who had considered evacuating to Syria were told stories by those inside Lebanon about how people were killed on the road to the north by the bombings.
243:
229:
434:, also deployed forward to Akrotiri to assist in the airbridge. They left on 18 July, with four stopovers for refuelling, and arrived in Cyprus 24 hours later. The helicopters were used primarily to get around the Israeli naval blockade. Some evacuees were processed at the military base on RAF Akrotiri, and had onward flights from there to
525:
The operation came to an end on 22 July 2006, with between 3,500 and 4,400 UK personnel evacuated. The number of people evacuated led to the government describing the operation as the biggest rescue since
Dunkirk. The Royal Naval Sea Kings of 846 Squadron remained at Cyprus to ferry diplomats around
470:
acted as a floating HQ. The Sea Kings were equipped with
Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASAC) and kept watch on what the Israeli Air Force and opposing forces were doing to ensure safe flight paths. The first flights involved the Chinook helicopters ferrying the most vulnerable from Beirut
336:
At the time of the conflict, the highest percentages of foreign nationals in
Lebanon was 40,000 from Canada, 30,000 from the Philippines, 25,000 from Australia, 25,000 from the United States, 22,000 from Great Britain (of which 10,000 had dual nationality), and 20,000 from France. The
438:
arranged by private charter. When the number of evacuees involved became too great to be accommodated in the aircraft between the two ports at Beirut and Cyprus, shuttles were run from Beirut to Royal Navy ships outside the naval blockade area.
317:
entered into Israel from
Lebanon and killed three Israeli soldiers, taking two hostage. Later that same day, Israeli aircraft struck several targets inside Lebanon including many main roads in the north of the country, and the main runway at
407:). The Ministry of Defence (MoD) mobilised 2,500 serving personnel across the navy, army and air force, including 800 army personnel who provided a "spearhead land element", flying into Beirut by helicopters on 17 July 2006.
1499:
686:
LaGuardia, Anton; Butcher, Tim (14 July 2006). "Israeli forces bombard
Lebanon Holidaymakers flee as jets blast Beirut airport Hezbollah militia responds with volley of rockets".
1096:
Ministry of
Defence annual report and accounts 2006–07: including the annual performance report and consolidated departmental resource accounts (for the year ended 31 March 2007)
1142:
483:
based at RAF Akrotiri, were also used in the operation. Subsequent evacuations were handled by Royal Navy ships transporting evacuees across the
Mediterranean Sea to Cyprus.
363:
With the airport at Beirut closed and roads within the region blocked, the best route out was via sea transport, with a short term flight in a military helicopter from the
1479:
221:
602:
returned to her home port of
Portsmouth after evacuating 243 people from Beirut to Cyprus. The ship stayed out one-month longer than her original return date. The
897:
Jureidini, Ray (2011). "12: State and non-state actors in evacuations during the conflict in
Lebanon, July–August 2006". In Khoser, Khalid; Martin, Susan (eds.).
603:
472:
1504:
868:
495:
was not directly involved in transporting evacuees, she aided the operation by supplying the other ships with fuel, bedding and other essentials.
462:
covered the 2,200-mile (3,500 km) journey in four days. The airbridge paths and patterns were overwatched by Sea King helicopters from HMS
341:
contacted the estimated 22,000 who were deemed to be allowed to evacuate, and established that around 5,000 people wanted to leave the country.
289:
helicopters also providing support and transit. The operation was described as being the largest evacuation that
Britain was involved in since
1103:
906:
418:, flew into Beirut to ferry British nationals direct to Cyprus, and then later onto waiting Royal Navy ships, which ferried them across the
1494:
266:
1064:
758:
355:
were both on a security mission in the Indian Ocean in July 2006, when they were diverted to Operation Highbrow in the Mediterranean.
1489:
1460:
1414:
1217:
Theodoulou, Michael; Evans, Michael (19 July 2006). "Warships join rescue flotilla for biggest evacuation since Dunkirk".
110:
72:
1275:
726:
Blandford, Nicholas; Theodoulou, Michael (17 July 2006). "Britons told to lie low and wait for Royal Navy rescue".
451:
427:
1327:
607:
471:
straight to the military base of RAF Akrotiri. Initially, 60 people were evacuated, with some being treated at
1119:
Theodoulou, Michael; Evans, Michael (18 July 2006). "Exhausted Britons take air bridge to safety in Cyprus".
642:
used to treat some of the evacuees, but also United States Armed Forces helicopters used the base on Cyprus.
325:
By 13 July, with the main runway at Beirut airport out of action, and a naval blockade of Lebanon by the
635:
423:
342:
102:
938:
663:
Farell, Stephen; Blandford, Nicholas (13 July 2006). "It's war, says Israel as troops are kidnapped".
349:
480:
476:
446:
was due to leave Gibraltar with the families of serving personnel on board for the journey back to
415:
379:
411:
290:
329:, the UK Government turned its planning into a airbridge with careful co-ordination between the
1484:
1456:
1439:
1410:
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1124:
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330:
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274:
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989:
774:
963:
447:
435:
286:
188:
35:
431:
372:
364:
338:
319:
1473:
302:
277:. Initially, helicopters started ferrying the most vulnerable to Cyprus with several
869:"Defence Transport and Movements Agency (DTMA) Annual Report and Accounts 2006/2007"
639:
326:
184:
285:
to Cyprus. The operation involved Royal Navy surface ships and helicopters, with
40:
1438:. Vol. 53, no. 626. Portsmouth: Ministry of Defence. September 2006.
310:
278:
172:
145:
1443:
1407:
A History of The Princess Mary's Hospital: Royal Air Force Akrotiri 1963–2013
1365:
1249:
1226:
1128:
735:
695:
672:
125:
112:
87:
74:
1014:
990:"Collection: Ministry of Defence Official: Royal Air Force Akrotiri, Cyprus"
842:
805:
455:
314:
1360:. Vol. 62, no. 732. Portsmouth: Ministry of Defence. p. 25.
631:
627:
450:, however, this was cancelled at short notice and the helicopters from
270:
64:
1240:
Jones, George (18 July 2006). "'Biggest evacuation since Dunkirk'".
1057:
British aircraft carriers: design, development and service histories
522:
carried three trips in total, safely carrying 766 people to Cyprus.
1143:"Helicopters - Thursday 1 February 2007 - Hansard - UK Parliament"
899:
The Migration-displacement Nexus Patterns, Processes, and Policies
306:
518:, hired in from the Greece, carried 1,000 in two trips. HMS
1500:
Non-combat military operations involving the United Kingdom
749:
Johnson, David E. (2011). "2: Israel in Lebanon and Gaza".
410:
22 hours after being activated on 15 July, Royal Air Force
1356:
Gray, Mike, ed. (July 2015). "May the force be with you".
403:. One civilian vessel was chartered for the operation (MV
199:
Successful evacuation of between 3,500 and 4,000 civilians
1038:
1036:
709:
707:
705:
610:
in recognition of their efforts during the operation.
46:
is seen after disembarking 1,000 passengers in Cyprus
1078:
1076:
920:
918:
211:
203:
195:
179:
159:
151:
141:
59:
51:
23:
1276:"HMS Bulwark develops her twin Chinook capability"
16:United Kingdom 2006 military led evacuee operation
510:took over 1,300, of which 300 were children. HMS
491:was allowed into the port at Beirut. Whilst RFA
309:' Military Wing, Israeli jets bombed a house in
1098:. London: Stationery Office. 2007. p. 35.
506:conveyed 600 evacuees in three trips and HMS
281:ships later transporting evacuees across the
8:
458:and she left for the eastern Mediterranean.
155:Evacuation of British nationals from Lebanon
502:, left on 18 July carrying 163 people. HMS
269:(MoD) operation to evacuate civilians from
1453:Middle East air forces in the 21st century
579:846 Fleet Air Arm Squadron (S-61 Sea King)
576:845 Fleet Air Arm Squadron (S-61 Sea King)
473:The Princess Mary's Hospital, RAF Akrotiri
367:to one of the awaiting ships, either, HMS
34:
20:
751:Hard fighting: Israel in Lebanon and Gaza
1480:21st-century Royal Air Force deployments
655:
638:. Coords given are for the hospital at
619:
1262:
1042:
837:
835:
833:
831:
829:
827:
713:
301:On 12 July 2006, in an effort to kill
800:
798:
796:
7:
1505:Non-combatant evacuation operations
1434:"Your help will not be forgotten".
1301:"Lebanon evacuees flown back to UK"
1059:. Barnsley: Seaforth. p. 328.
1015:"Banned cleric bids to flee Beirut"
1192:"At-a-glance: Lebanon evacuations"
1178:
1166:
1082:
964:"Helicopters go to aid evacuation"
924:
843:"Praise for UK Lebanon evacuation"
753:. Santa Monica: RAND. p. 61.
14:
1380:"HMS St Albans back in home port"
775:"Lebanon evacuation gathers pace"
876:assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
606:at RAF Akrotiri was awarded the
589:No. 27 Squadron (CH-47D Chinook)
242:
241:
227:
220:
937:Kalinik, Alex (2 August 2006).
901:. Berghahn Books. p. 202.
273:as a result of the escalating
228:
1:
1455:. Barnsley: Pen & Sword.
1328:"100 years of naval aviation"
1221:. No. 68756. p. 7.
1123:. No. 68755. p. 7.
730:. No. 68754. p. 7.
667:. No. 68751. p. 1.
634:and at the military base of
514:took 243 people, and the MV
1495:Royal Air Force deployments
626:Evacuees were offloaded at
487:anchored offshore, but HMS
1521:
452:No. 800 Naval Air Squadron
428:No. 846 Naval Air Squadron
422:to Cyprus. Similarly, six
333:and Lebanese authorities.
806:"Evacuation from Lebanon"
215:
33:
28:
1490:British Army deployments
1409:. Vassallo. p. 38.
1405:Vassallo, David (2017).
608:Wilkinson Sword of Peace
498:The first ship out, HMS
29:Part of 2006 Lebanon War
598:On 18 August 2006, HMS
163:15 July 2006
1147:hansard.parliament.uk
1055:Hobbs, David (2013).
636:Akrotiri and Dhekelia
1451:Ripley, Tim (2010).
939:"Chinooks come home"
1326:Eagles, Sue (ed.).
1242:The Daily Telegraph
943:Basingstoke Gazette
688:The Daily Telegraph
477:Griffin helicopters
267:Ministry of Defence
126:34.5695°N 32.9364°E
122: /
88:33.9026°N 35.5119°E
84: /
454:were offloaded at
313:. In retaliation,
263:Operation Highbrow
24:Operation Highbrow
1335:fleetairarmoa.org
1169:, pp. 14–15.
1105:978-0-10-294636-9
908:978-0-85745-191-0
426:helicopters from
420:Mediterranean Sea
414:helicopters from
331:Israeli Air Force
283:Mediterranean Sea
260:
259:
142:Commanded by
55:Rescue/evacuation
52:Operational scope
1512:
1466:
1447:
1421:
1420:
1402:
1396:
1395:
1393:
1391:
1386:. 18 August 2006
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275:2006 Lebanon War
245:
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180:Executed by
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131:34.5695; 32.9364
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93:33.9026; 35.5119
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849:. 3 August 2006
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584:Royal Air Force
537:
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481:No. 84 Squadron
436:Gatwick Airport
416:No. 27 Squadron
361:
299:
287:Royal Air Force
256:
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191:, UK Government
189:Royal Air Force
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1415:
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1371:
1348:
1318:
1307:. 20 July 2006
1292:
1267:
1265:, p. 404.
1255:
1232:
1209:
1198:. 25 July 2006
1183:
1171:
1159:
1134:
1111:
1104:
1087:
1072:
1066:978-1848321380
1065:
1047:
1045:, p. 402.
1032:
1021:. 21 July 2006
1006:
981:
970:. 18 July 2006
955:
929:
914:
907:
889:
860:
823:
812:. 21 July 2006
792:
781:. 18 July 2006
766:
760:978-0833058508
759:
741:
718:
716:, p. 401.
701:
678:
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648:
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536:
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531:
530:Military units
528:
432:RNAS Yeovilton
365:Port of Beirut
360:
359:The evacuation
357:
339:Foreign Office
320:Beirut Airport
298:
295:
265:was a British
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15:
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2:
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1462:9781848840997
1458:
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1416:9780992798017
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1296:
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1268:
1264:
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1256:
1251:
1247:
1244:. p. 2.
1243:
1236:
1233:
1228:
1224:
1220:
1213:
1210:
1197:
1193:
1187:
1184:
1181:, p. 15.
1180:
1175:
1172:
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1160:
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1144:
1138:
1135:
1130:
1126:
1122:
1115:
1112:
1107:
1101:
1097:
1091:
1088:
1085:, p. 14.
1084:
1079:
1077:
1073:
1068:
1062:
1058:
1051:
1048:
1044:
1039:
1037:
1033:
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1016:
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1007:
995:
991:
985:
982:
969:
965:
959:
956:
944:
940:
933:
930:
927:, p. 16.
926:
921:
919:
915:
910:
904:
900:
893:
890:
877:
870:
864:
861:
848:
844:
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828:
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776:
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767:
762:
756:
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745:
742:
737:
733:
729:
722:
719:
715:
710:
708:
706:
702:
697:
693:
690:. p. 2.
689:
682:
679:
674:
670:
666:
659:
656:
649:
641:
637:
633:
629:
623:
620:
613:
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583:
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572:Fort Victoria
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496:
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493:Fort Victoria
490:
486:
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400:Fort Victoria
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303:Mohammed Deif
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50:
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37:
32:
27:
22:
19:
1452:
1435:
1406:
1400:
1388:. Retrieved
1383:
1374:
1357:
1351:
1341:15 September
1339:. Retrieved
1334:
1321:
1311:15 September
1309:. Retrieved
1304:
1295:
1283:. Retrieved
1279:
1270:
1258:
1241:
1235:
1218:
1212:
1200:. Retrieved
1195:
1186:
1174:
1162:
1150:. Retrieved
1146:
1137:
1120:
1114:
1095:
1090:
1056:
1050:
1023:. Retrieved
1018:
1009:
997:. Retrieved
993:
984:
972:. Retrieved
967:
958:
946:. Retrieved
942:
932:
898:
892:
880:. Retrieved
875:
863:
851:. Retrieved
846:
814:. Retrieved
809:
783:. Retrieved
778:
769:
750:
744:
727:
721:
687:
681:
664:
658:
640:RAF Akrotiri
622:
599:
597:
571:
565:
559:
553:
547:
541:
526:the region.
524:
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443:
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351:
344:
335:
327:Israeli Navy
324:
305:, leader of
300:
262:
261:
185:British Army
183:Royal Navy,
42:
18:
1390:5 September
1337:. p. 7
1285:9 September
1263:Ripley 2010
1202:5 September
1152:7 September
1043:Ripley 2010
1025:5 September
999:4 September
974:5 September
948:4 September
882:4 September
878:. p. 9
853:5 September
816:5 September
785:5 September
714:Ripley 2010
542:Illustrious
485:Illustrious
468:Illustrious
464:Illustrious
460:Illustrious
444:Illustrious
387:Illustrious
345:Illustrious
129: /
91: /
1474:Categories
994:iwm.org.uk
650:References
566:St. Albans
554:Gloucester
535:Royal Navy
520:Gloucester
500:Gloucester
489:Gloucester
448:Portsmouth
369:Gloucester
352:Gloucester
297:Background
279:Royal Navy
204:Casualties
167:2006-07-15
146:Royal Navy
117:32°56′11″E
114:34°34′10″N
79:35°30′43″E
76:33°54′09″N
1444:0028-1670
1436:Navy News
1366:0028-1670
1358:Navy News
1250:0307-1235
1227:0140-0460
1219:The Times
1129:0140-0460
1121:The Times
736:0140-0460
728:The Times
696:0307-1235
673:0140-0460
665:The Times
600:St Albans
594:Aftermath
512:St Albans
456:Gibraltar
430:based at
382:St Albans
315:Hezbollah
173:UTC+02:00
152:Objective
67:, Lebanon
60:Locations
1485:Airlifts
1384:BBC News
1305:BBC News
1196:BBC News
1019:BBC News
968:BBC News
847:BBC News
810:BBC News
779:BBC News
632:Limassol
604:hospital
424:Sea King
249:Akrotiri
105:, Cyprus
103:Akrotiri
1428:Sources
1179:NN 2006
1167:NN 2006
1083:NN 2006
925:NN 2006
628:Larnaca
548:Bulwark
516:Alkioni
508:Bulwark
412:Chinook
405:Alkioni
393:Bulwark
291:Dunkirk
196:Outcome
165: (
43:Bulwark
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466:, and
385:, HMS
271:Beirut
235:Beirut
65:Beirut
1331:(PDF)
872:(PDF)
614:Notes
479:from
396:, or
307:Hamas
1457:ISBN
1440:ISSN
1411:ISBN
1392:2021
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884:2021
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755:ISBN
732:ISSN
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669:ISSN
570:RFA
564:HMS
560:York
558:HMS
552:HMS
546:HMS
540:HMS
504:York
442:HMS
398:RFA
391:HMS
380:HMS
375:York
373:HMS
350:HMS
348:and
343:HMS
311:Gaza
160:Date
41:HMS
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