Whitmer asks Blinken to bring Michiganders in Lebanon homeNews Sports Autos Entertainment Advertise Obituaries eNewspaper Legals  ELECTIONSWhitmer urges US to evacuate Michiganders stuck in Lebanon conflict: 'We need to do more' Clara HendricksonDetroit Free PressGov. Gretchen Whitmer urged U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken Tuesday to do more to ensure Michiganders in Lebanon can return home safely to the U.S. amid an Israeli ground invasion of its northern neighbor.Whitmer thanked Blinken for the U.S. Department of State's efforts to help U.S. citizens overseas trying to escape the violence, citing a crisis intake form the department made available online for those in Lebanon to receive updates. "But we need to do more," Whitmer wrote to Blinken Tuesday in a letter obtained by the Detroit Free Press. "It is imperative that we all work together to bring Michiganders to safety and back with their families immediately." The governor's office has not made the letter publicly available but confirmed its authenticity to the Free Press.Whitmer said her office has heard reports of U.S. citizens trying to flee Lebanon but said expensive airline tickets and flight cancellations are some of the challenges facing those trying to return home. "From U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib’s congressional district alone, 140 U.S. citizens or permanent residents are struggling to find passage out of Lebanon," Whitmer wrote to Blinken. "We are already hearing reports of confirmed deaths and fear there will be more. We cannot stand by while our constituents and their families are suffering."Whitmer's latest letter comes after she wrote to Blinken in October 2023 asking him to facilitate the safe return of Michiganders stuck in Gaza and she hopes for a similar outcome this time. "As you did with swift action last fall to set up charter flights out of Israel and Gaza, today, I urge the State Department to facilitate the safe evacuation of U.S. citizens from Lebanon."Middle East Violence:Andy Levin focuses on Gaza and Lebanon as he renews faith for Jewish New YearThe latest escalation of war in the Middle East comes almost a year after the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in about 250 hostages being taken. Israeli military actions have killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has responded to Oct. 7 with missile attacks and blamed Israel for pager explosions targeting the group, which killed and injured civilians and Hezbollah fighters.The leader of Hezbollah — Hassan Nasrallah — recently died in an Israeli strike. On Tuesday, Israel began its ground invasion into Lebanon as it tried to intercept Iranian missiles.Michigan is home to the second-highest Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) population of all U.S. states, according to 2020 census data. About a quarter of Michigan's MENA population is Lebanese, and Wayne County is home to the highest concentration of Lebanese residents in the country, according to the data. Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on X, previously called Twitter, @clarajanehen.Looking for more on Michigan’s elections this year? Check out our voter guide, subscribe to our elections newsletter and always feel free to share your thoughts in a letter to the editor.Staff Directory Careers Accessibility Support Sitemap Legals Our Ethical Principles Responsible Disclosure Subscription Terms & Conditions Terms of Service Privacy Policy Your Privacy ChoicesContact Us Support Local Businesses Advertise Your Business Buy and Sell Licensing & Reprints Help Center Subscriber Guide Manage Account Give FeedbackSubscribe Today Newsletters Mobile Apps Facebook X eNewspaper ArchivesJobs Cars Homes Classifieds Education Renvy.com Michigan.com Shopping 10Best LocaliQ Digital Marketing Solutions© 2025 www.freep.com. All rights reserved.
• Kirby: ‘State Department does not feel a need for’ American evacuations from Israel, Lebanon (Sept 29)
[the hill](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4906074-kirby-state-department-does-not-feel-a-need-for-american-evacuations-from-israel-lebanon/)

• US working with airlines to provide additional flights out of Lebanon with seats for Americans (Oct 1st)
[Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-working-with-airlines-provide-additional-flights-out-lebanon-with-seats-2024-10-01/)