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Expats urged to flee as blitz on Lebanon kills terror leader

HUNDREDS of Brits were today due to catch the last mercy flight out of Beirut as Israel continued its blitz.

All 2,000 UK expats were urged to flee as huge explosions rocked the Lebanese capital yesterday.

The plea came as Israel prepares to hit back at Iran in response to its rocket bombardment last Tuesday.

Last night Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "No country in the world would accept such an attack on its cities and citizens, and Israel will not accept it either. Israel has the duty and the right to defend itself and respond to these attacks - and we will do so."" Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of the October 7 atrocities that sparked the most recent round of conflict when Hamas butchered 1,200 Israelis and took 250 hostage. Since then, Israel is estimated to have killed over 40,000 Palestinians in a bid to wipe out the terrorists in Gaza.

On its northern front it has been trading cross-border fire with Hamas' allies Hezbollah, who occupy Lebanon. In the last year, 2,000 Lebanese have died - the most casualties since Israel stepped up its offensive less than two weeks ago.

More than a million have been driven from their homes and nearly 400,000 are said to have fled to neighbouring Syria.