A fresh warning has been issued for Australians in Lebanon, with many commercial flights cancelled and the US increasing its military presence in the region.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong urged Australians to “take whatever option is available” to them even if it is not a direct route.
”Australians in Lebanon should leave immediately while commercial flights are available,” Wong said this morning.
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It comes after Hamas’ political chief, Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran and a top Hezbollah commander was killed in Lebanon.
Last week federal government website Smart Traveller warned Australians to leave the region due to concerns the security situation “could deteriorate rapidly throughout Lebanon with little to no notice”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today called for dialogue between all sides.
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“These are volatile circumstances and we want to make sure Australians are safe,” Albanese said.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was in Israel last week where he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and promised to strengthen ties between the nations if he is elected.
Those ties have been tested as Israel responded to the attacks of October 7 with increasing civilian casualties, including Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom.
READ MORE: ‘Time to leave:’ Urgent warning to Aussies in Lebanon
The volatility in the Middle East is causing rare and potentially problematic division between the major parties on foreign policy.
The next potential flashpoint is the resettlement of refugees from the conflict.
“We need to make sure biometrics tests are taken, we need to know who is coming to our country,” Dutton said.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said: “No country in the world is sending people back to Gaza at the moment, so we have to work through”.
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