Lebanese family in Aberdeen fearing for loved ones in Lebanon as attacks intensify

A Lebanese family living in Aberdeen say they fear for their loved ones still in the county as attacks on their home country intensify.

Military air strikes from Israel on Lebanon have intensified in recent days, sparking concerns of all out war in the Middle East.

The Prime Minister has urged more than 10,000 UK citizens suspected to be in the country to leave immediately. British troops have been deployed to nearby Cyprus to assist with the emergency evacuation.

The United Nations has said more than 90,000 people have been displaced by five days of Israeli strikes on Lebanon.

The Bedawi family moved to Aberdeen more than 12 years ago, but visit family and friends back home in Lebanon often.

They had just returned to the UK before violence broke out.

“It is definitely very worrying, definitely”, Ali Bedawi told STV News.

“Everybody is now all moving away from south Lebanon. The people there are very, very nice people, everybody is taking all these refugees, people leaving their home, they’re all getting helped by other people.

“I’ve only got one brother left in the country. The rest, they live abroad due to the political situation, economical situation.”

Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed 51 people and injured more than 220, according to Lebanon’s health minister.

Nearly 700 people have been killed in Lebanon this week as Israel dramatically escalated strikes, saying it is targeting Hezbollah’s military capacities. Israeli leaders say they are determined to stop the group’s cross-border attacks, which began after Hamas’ attack on October 7, which ignited the war in Gaza.

The latest deaths come after 564 people were killed and more than 1,800 wounded in the previous two days, including around 150 women and children.

Alia Bedawi added: “My auntie’s mum and her uncle are living in the suburb of Beirut that was hit few days ago, Dahieh, and they’re probably going to have to evacuate in the next few days, especially if things get worse and they are probably going to have to go up and stay at our house.

“We just really hope that doesn’t happen, but you never know. And we have friends that live in the mountains and they’re obviously fine for just now, but you don’t know where it’s going to spread to, what’s going to happen.”

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, John Swinney said the Scottish Government would work with the UK Government to ensure any Scots in Lebanon can leave safely.

He said: “I’m deeply concerned about the situation in Lebanon, as I have been about the situation in Gaza for almost a year.

“The escalation in violence is deeply troubling and the loss of innocent life is unconscionable.

“So, we need to have a solution to the Middle East conflict. We need to have a de-escalation of the conflict.

“Obviously, if there is a threat to any of our citizens in Lebanon, the United Kingdom Government has responsibility for ensuring the safe passage of those individuals.

“We will work constructively with the United Kingdom Government to make sure that any of our citizens that are caught up in this absolutely awful conflict are able to be assured of their safety.”