Turkish soldiers evacuate large group of Turkish citizens from Beirut
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Turkish soldiers who were sent to Beirut to pick up a large group of Turkish citizens trying to flee violence there arrived yesterday at the Lebanese port on the Turkish Navy's "Iskenderun" ferryboat. The evacuation process for the group of 1,200 Turkish citizens gathered in Beirut began in the late morning, and lasted for 6 hours.
Speaking about the process, the Turkish Ambassador to Beirut, Irfan Acar, said "Everything has been prepared to meet the needs of our citizens aboard the ship. The trip back to Turkey will last about 17 hours, and will include doctors and nurses who are prepared to help the citizens."
Embassy officials noted that the reason for the estimated time of 17 hours back to Turkey, which is a longer time than usual, is that the Turkish "Iskenderun" was to use the special sea corridor set up by Israeli war ships off the coast of Lebanon.
"I am happy to be returning to Turkey, but still frightened"
A young woman waiting to be evacuated onto the Turkish ferryboat described her feelings with these words: "We have been very scared. We are still scared. We are very happy to be returning to our country, but we are still a bit frightened. In the end, my children and I are going. My husband is staying behind. I hope everything will be ok. We were living in a place very close to the bombing. The children were very afraid at nighttime. I gave birth early, in the 7th month of pregnancy. I wasn't expecting to, and I think it was out of fear that I did." Many of the Turkish passengers waiting to be evacuated expressed happiness to be heading for Turkey, but worry for their loved ones being left behind in Lebanon.
Goksel: International pressure means Beirut being spared
Former United National political undersecretary Timur Goksel spoke to the Dogan News Agency about his perspective on events in Lebanon this week: "It seems to me that Beirut is little by little being left out of the fighting. This is due to international pressures. But fighting in southern Lebanon is still going on. This will not end easily. There is a giant disaster occuring there. It appears that it will last for another 10 days. But there is not much word about what is happening there. I am not expecting an occupation. But that is what Hizbollah is expecting. They want the Israelis to come and invade and occupy."