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Jul. 20, 2006 7:38
US Navy ship off Lebanon to take 1,200 Americans
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
BEIRUT, Lebanon
The USS Nashville anchored off the coast of Lebanon Thursday morning prepared to receive some 1,200 Americans fleeing fighting to take them to Cyprus.
The amphibious assault ship prepares for its voyage as the United States and other countries ramp up their evacuation operations from the war-torn country. Early Thursday, some 900 Americans arrived safely in Cyprus aboard a luxury cruise ship the Orient Queen.
Denmark leads the way its nationals out, having evacuated 4,100.
Around 8,000 of the 25,000 Americans in Lebanon have asked to be evacuated.
The vessel was one of several Navy ships that headed to Lebanon late Wednesday to assist with the evacuation.
060719-N-4781D-001 Central Command Area of Operations (July 19, 2006) - The amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) conducts an underway replenishment with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) underway replenishment ship USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198). Iwo Jima was recently directed to assist in the departure of U.S. citizens from Lebanon. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bradley Dawson (RELEASED)
Map of Lebanon and northern Israel showing the latest
attacks by Israeli forces and the Hezbollah militia.
(AFP/Graphic)
* Israeli air strikes on Lebanon kill 63 civilians and a Hizbollah fighter on Wednesday, deadliest toll of 8-day-old war
* Rockets fired by Hizbollah kill two Israeli Arab children as they play outside house in northern Israeli city of Nazareth, home to country's largest Arab community
* Israeli aircraft drop 23 tons of explosives on bunker in southern Beirut where army says it suspects senior Hizbollah members are holed up. Hizbollah denies any of its leaders or personnel are killed
* Israeli troops cross border to raid Hizbollah posts and Israeli army says two of its soldiers are killed and nine injured in fighting with Hizbollah guerrillas
* The fighting has killed at least 299 people in Lebanon and 29 in Israel
* Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora says more than 500,000 people have been displaced and appeals for international help
* U.N. envoys to suggest deployment of Lebanese troops in south Lebanon and enlarging international force, diplomats say
* U.N. human rights chief says scale of killing in Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories could involve war crimes
* Olmert says military campaign to continue "as long as necessary" to free two captured soldiers and ensure Hizbollah is not a threat. Diplomats say Israel wants another 14 days for its campaign
* Syrian President Assad says international community must bring about ceasefire
* United States ramps up evacuation of its citizens from Lebanon, bringing out more than 1,200 by sea and air to Cyprus. France sends 900 people by boat to Cyprus and Germany sends at least 500 citizens by bus to Syria
* Israeli troops kill 15 Palestinians in clashes in Gaza and occupied West Bank
"Around 8,000 of the 25,000 Americans in Lebanon have asked to be evacuated."
Anyone seen a breakdown of the 25K Americans as to what percentage have dual citizenship, how many are just visiting, how many actually live there full time, etc.?
Y'all help me with this. Quote from the story above:
" ... [USS Nashville] anchored off the coast of Lebanon Thursday morning prepared to receive some 1,200 Americans fleeing fighting to take them to Cyprus.
The amphibious assault ship prepares for its voyage ..."
Is this amphibian going to be allowed to dock? If it stays anchored off the coast, how are the evacuees going to get on it? I've heard that American ships are not being allowed to dock by the Lebanese government.
I know there is a smaller "landing craft" that the Marines came ashore in - will the evacuees be tendered out to the USS Nashville on one of those? How many does it hold? Will it have to go back and forth?
Just trying to understand the logistics, because you *know* people are gonna be ranting about this, since they have about everything else.