Prime Minister Urges Australians in Lebanon to Return Home Immediately
Senator Penny Wong is also stressing the importance of Australians leaving Lebanon immediately.
Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also joined in urging Australians in Lebanon to return home as soon as possible.
This call comes following an Israeli drone strike in Beirut that killed a top Hezbollah commander and another strike in Iran that killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, which has raised concerns about a possible broader escalation amid Israel’s conflict in Gaza.
During an interview on Sydney’s 2DayFM, Albanese expressed deep concern about the increasing conflict.
“For Australians considering travel to Lebanon, please reconsider your plans. Specifically, for those with family in Lebanon, we have issued a statement advising them to come back home since Beirut airport may soon be inaccessible,” he stated.
Emphasizing the potential for further conflict, Albanese added, “Hezbollah possesses a significant military force. If a conflict arises between Israel and Hezbollah, it will only add to the already catastrophic situation in the Middle East, and we are extremely worried.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong echoed these concerns in a video message on X (formerly Twitter), urging Australian citizens in Lebanon to depart immediately.
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“The time to leave is now,” Wong stated on July 31, cautioning about the potential for rapid escalation and the potential closure of Beirut airport.
She pointed out that if the situation deteriorates, the Australian government may not be able to assist its citizens.
Smartraveller, operated by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), updated its advisory on July 29.
It continues to advise against travel to Lebanon and recommends that Australians currently in the country leave immediately while commercial flights are still operating.
This updated warning came after a rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and flight disruptions to and from Beirut due to insurance risks.
The advisory emphasized the volatile security situation, stating, “Australians in Lebanon should depart immediately while commercial flights are still available. The security situation in Lebanon could rapidly deteriorate with little or no warning. Some airlines have canceled or delayed flights. More flight cancellations and disruptions could happen with little or no notice.”
Smartraveller initially changed its travel advice for Lebanon to “do not travel” on Oct. 19, citing the unstable security situation.
The recent escalation included a rocket strike on a soccer field in a village in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, resulting in at least 12 casualties and more than 20 injuries.
Flights to and from Beirut were disrupted, with Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines (MEA) attributing schedule disruptions to insurance risks.
According to Lebanese network Tele Liban, the attack led to seven deaths and 78 injuries, as reported by the civil defense authority.
