Britons have told the BBC they are struggling to get out of Lebanon, as Sir Keir Starmer repeats his call for UK nationals to leave.
The UK has urged British nationals to leave immediately because of the escalation in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
Speaking to BBC News, the prime minister said Britons still in the country should: “Leave now. It’s very important.”
The UK and allied nations have called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon “to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement”.
Speaking to the BBC’s political editor Chris Mason at the UN in New York, Sir Keir said the situation in Lebanon was escalating and he urged Britons to “leave now” without waiting for an evacuation.
The prime minister said he would not go into detail about evacuation plans, but contingency measures were in place.
The government has sent about 700 additional military personnel to Cyprus in case an emergency evacuation is required.
Britons in Lebanon have spoken of their difficulty in leaving the country.
BBC News understands there are between 4,000 and 6,000 UK nationals including dependents in Lebanon.
When the BBC visited Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport, the only civilian airport in the country, most flights were cancelled after international airlines suspended flights to and from the city.
Middle East Airlines, as well Iraqi Airways and Iran Air, are the only companies still operating at the moment.