Images: Combat Camera, Mon. 24 July

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jarod Lambert, a loadmaster, walks down an aisle of a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft transporting American citizens from Cyprus to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, July 23, 2006. The Americans are transiting through Ramstein to catch a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft that will fly them into the United States. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Stacy L. Pearsall, U.S. Air Force. (Released)

A U.S. Marine of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit assists an American citizen with his cranial helmet before he helicopters out from the American Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, on July 22, 2006. At the request of the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon and at the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the United States Central Command and elements of Task Force 59 are assisting with the departure of U.S. citizens from Lebanon. DoD photo by Cpl. Jeffrey A. Cosola, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)

American citizens departing Lebanon board a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at an airport in Cyprus July 23, 2006. Having departed Lebanon, the Americans will transit from Cyprus through Ramstein Air Base in Germany to the United States. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Stacy L. Pearsall, U.S. Air Force. (Released)

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaks with U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Carl Jensen, commander of Task Force 59, July 24, 2006, upon her arrival in Cyprus. Rice stopped in Cyprus during her visit to the region to discuss the current mid-east crisis. DoD photo by Paul Farley, U.S. Navy. (Released)

More Than 10,000 Americans Evacuated from Lebanon
By Jim Garamone
WASHINGTON (American Forces Press Service; 23 July) -- Over the past two days, the U.S. military has transported more than 5,000 American citizens out of Lebanon, bringing the total number evacuated to more than 10,000, a Defense official speaking on background said today.

A total of 3,994 American citizens left Lebanon on Saturday. Navy and contract ships lifted 1,815 from the embattled country today. State Department officials in Cyprus said the number of Americans wishing to leave Lebanon may be dropping off. Israel is facing off against the terrorist group Hezbollah.

Israeli forces are launching air strikes into Hezbollah strongholds in and around Beirut, and artillery strikes into the south. State Department officials said roughly 25,000 American citizens were in Lebanon when the fighting started July 16.

Yesterday’s evacuation saw 40 special-needs citizens taken to Cyrus via helicopters.

The USS Whidbey Island transported 792, and the contract carriers Orient Queen and Rahmah took 983 and 933 Americans, respectively, to the island nation in the eastern Mediterranean. DoD also is involved in transporting Americans back to the United States.

U.S. Transportation Command is arranging commercial and military aircraft to fly the evacuees. Two military flights transported 199 Americans to McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., yesterday.

Chartered commercial flights will take evacuees to Baltimore-Washington International Turrgood Marshall Airport and Philadelphia International Airport. Officials in Cyprus said the ships will return to the waters off Beirut. Others – the USS Trenton, the USS Nashville and the contract carrier Vittoria M – are evacuating Americans from Lebanon today.

Operations will continue as long as Americans wish to leave the country, said State Department officials.

Video: Marines Assist Citizens Departing Lebanon

Video: B-roll of American Citizens Departing Lebanon

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