France deploys helicopter carrier to evacuate Lebanon refugees

A French helicopter carrier will arrive in the eastern Mediterranean in the next five to six days and take up a position in case a decision is made to evacuate foreign nationals from Lebanon, a French military spokesman said according to Britain's Reuters news agency on Tuesday.

According to the report, Western countries have considered their options on how to safely remove civilians from Lebanon if Israel expands its military activity to eradicate terrorism, with Cyprus and perhaps Turkey perceived as offering shelter to tens of thousands of people from Lebanon.

France, which has about 20,000 civilians in Lebanon, sent its helicopter carrier Dixmod from Toulon's naval port to the region on Monday, following the start of the IDF's ground maneuvers, a French military spokesman said.