BEIRUT, Lebanon – British and American officials said their evacuations from Lebanon were wrapping up, as ships continued to carry foreigners away to safety yesterday. Many of those leaving after 12 days of fighting had fled the south and described harrowing journeys over bombed-out roads to reach Beirut.

More than 408 people have been reported killed in Lebanon and Israel since fighting broke out July 12 between Israel forces and Hezbollah guerrillas.

“We had to take back roads through the mountains and some very rough areas. We were in a bus full of children and elderly people,” said Yasser Jahami, 38. The Cleveland resident drove his wife and 11-month-old daughter from his parents’ home in Tyre to Sidon, where they hitched a charter bus ride to Beirut.

“You could hear the planes flying low and you never know what’s going to happen,” he said, pushing a stroller.

The last large group of Britons requesting evacuation sailed out of Beirut’s harbour yesterday.

“We have brought back the last designated ship carrying people who wanted … assisted departure,” said Dennis Barnes, spokesman for UK military bases in Cyprus.

He said a total of about 4,500 Britons had been evacuated, no more had registered to leave, “and the embassy tells us no one is knocking on their door.”

U.S. Consul William Gill said most Americans who wanted to leave Lebanon had done so by yesterday and US evacuation efforts were nearly complete. He also urged anyone considering leaving to make up their minds quickly as fighting between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah guerrillas showed no sign of waning.

In fact, the commander of Israel’s northern military region yesterday said the attack on Lebanon would continue for several weeks.

“The objective is to win. How long will this take? In my opinion several weeks,” General Udi Adam told public radio.

“Victory means, to my eyes, that Hezbollah is no longer present on the line of contact (close to the Israeli-Lebanese border) and no longer has the ability to fire rockets.”