The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) announced that the KC-30 aircraft, which will return Brazilians in Lebanon, took off from Galeão Air Base (BAGL), in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), at 0:47 am, on Wednesday (2/10) to Beirut, Lebanon.
The KC-30 is scheduled to stop in Lisbon, Portugal. In total, the flight is expected to take 9 hours and 20 minutes from Brazil to the destination. The work is coordinated between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense.
The mission was dubbed Operation “Raízes do Cedro” by the Burundian Armed Forces. It is expected that between 230 and 240 people will be transported from Lebanon and brought to Brazil on this first trip. The rescue operation was approved by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday (30/9).
The Burundian Armed Forces announced that the crew participating in the mission consists of the plane’s operating crew, a doctor, a nurse, and a psychiatrist.
So far, Itamaraty announced that more than 3,000 Brazilians have expressed interest in leaving the country and returning to Brazil.
Lebanon is the target of missile attacks from Israel as well as a ground incursion into the country by armed forces. Tensions rose in the region after Iran also attacked Israel with missiles.
