Hundreds of seats have been secured for Australians and family trying to leave Lebanon, as deadly clashes between invading Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah fighters erupt in the country’s south.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said about 1700 Australians and family members in Lebanon were seeking to leave.
“We have been working this week to secure seats on flights, some seats were secured on Monday and Tuesday, and I can confirm that we have secured 80 seats on flights that are leaving today,” she said.
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“Only 35 of those seats have been taken up.”
She announced an extra 500 seats for Australians, Australian permanent residents, and their immediate family members, on two flights to Cyprus on Saturday.
“Obviously, the operation of these flights will be subject to the security situation and, of course, the airport in Beirut remaining open,” Wong said.
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She urged anybody who could secure a seat to do so.
Australians in Lebanon who want to leave are urged to register with DFAT’s online crisis centre, or contact the government’s 24-hour consular emergency centre on +61 2 6261 3305.
Wong said she understood many Australians in Lebanon called the country home and would feel “torn” about leaving, but urged them to consider their safety.
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“My message to Australians in Lebanon is: do not wait,” Wong said.
“If you are able to secure a seat on a flight, please take that seat. If you have a seat on today’s flight, don’t delay.
“Now is not the time for you to wait and see, now is the time to leave.”
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RAAF aircraft have landed in Cyprus as part of a possible contingency, but so far, Wong said, reservations for Australians were with commercial flights.
“We are very worried about the situation escalating. If Beirut Airport closes, the options for departure become even less,” she said.
Iran missile attack ‘dangerous escalation’
Wong reiterated Australia’s condemnation of Iran’s major missile attack on Israel yesterday morning as a “dangerous escalation”.
Between 180 and 200 projectiles were fired toward Israel, many of which were intercepted by international allies including the US, UK, and Jordan, or by Israel’s own Iron Dome defence system.
Israeli and US authorities have said there will be a “response” to the attacks, while Iran said any violation of its territory would prompt a greater response.
“Under international law, Israel has a right to defend itself against these attacks and as you know Australia always urges adherence to international law,” Wong said.
October 7 ‘not an occasion for protest’
Wong also echoed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s call for organisers to call off pro-Palestine protests set for October 7, the anniversary of Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel that saw 1200 Israelis killed and hundreds more taken hostage.
NSW Police are currently seeking a Supreme Court ruling to shut down the protests over fears of potential violence, with a decision due this afternoon.
“October 7 was the greatest loss of Jewish lives in a single day since the Holocaust,” Wong said.
“It’s a day of grieving and a day of remembrance and should be honoured as such.
“It is a solemn occasion. It’s not an occasion for protest.”
The attack by Hamas sparked a wave of Israeli bombings and ground operations against Gaza, which local health authorities say so far have killed more than 40,000 people.
Wong said Australians had the right to peaceful protest, and that any response would be up to respective state and territory authorities, but urged social “respect”.
“People should respect, whatever their views about what has happened over this last year, people should respect those who are grieving the loss of life on that horrific day,” she said.
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