Australia organizes evacuation of citizens from Lebanon

FM Penny Wong announces that 580 seats have been secured on flights for Australian citizens

Australia is aiding hundreds of its citizens in leaving Lebanon as the conflict in the region intensifies.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced on Thursday that 580 seats have been secured on flights for Australian citizens, permanent residents, and their families wishing to depart from the country.

The flights are scheduled to leave on Thursday and Saturday, with earlier evacuations also organized earlier in the week.

The Australian government has urged its citizens in Lebanon to leave immediately, as the volatile security situation poses increasing risks.

Approximately 1,700 Australians and their families have registered with the government, indicating their desire to leave the region.

“Please take whatever option is available to you. Now is not the time to wait and see; now is the time to leave,” Wong emphasized during a press conference.

She added that further delays could make evacuation more difficult, particularly if Beirut's international airport is forced to close.

In preparation for potential escalations, Australia has stationed military aircraft in Cyprus as part of a contingency plan.

However, the primary focus remains on facilitating the evacuation via commercial flights while Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport remains operational.

Wong expressed concern that the worsening situation could severely limit departure options if the airport were to shut down.

Australia has maintained calls for its citizens to depart Lebanon for several weeks due to the deteriorating security environment.

The Australian government has also been offering financial assistance to some nationals to facilitate their evacuation.

According to the foreign ministry, Lebanon is home to roughly 15,000 Australian citizens, many of whom are part of a large Lebanese diaspora community.

The escalating conflict, which has seen Israel launch a ground incursion into southern Lebanon and engage in battles with Hezbollah fighters, has created an increasingly dangerous situation.

The violence has already displaced nearly a million people, and more than 1,000 Lebanese have been killed since Israel began intensifying its attacks in September.

Other countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, have also urged their citizens to leave Lebanon.

Many foreign embassies are using social media platforms to provide guidelines and updates for their nationals.

The US has issued a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory, the highest warning level, due to the heightened risk of life-threatening situations.

The UK has similarly organized chartered flights for its citizens, with Foreign Secretary David Lammy urging Britons to leave Lebanon immediately.

France, which has a significant presence in Lebanon, is planning the potential evacuation of its nationals via helicopter carriers, while Germany has already begun flying out non-essential personnel and citizens at risk.

World leaders are raising alarms over Israel's escalating violence against Lebanon, warning of the potential for a "full-fledged" war.

Israeli air invasion, the most intense against Lebanon in years, have led to the highest single-day death toll since Lebanon’s civil war ended in 1990.

The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported 558 deaths, including 50 children and 94 women, with 1,835 wounded.

Israel troops have engaged in attacks against Hezbollah fighters using aerial strikes in southern Lebanon as their ground invasion stalled after eight Israeli soldiers were killed.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the rising civilian casualties, calling for a return to diplomacy. Iran, an ally of Hezbollah, accused Israel of provoking a wider conflict, warning of irreversible global consequences.

UNICEF also highlighted the severe psychological distress children are experiencing, urging immediate de-escalation.

As the situation escalates, Australian authorities continue to monitor developments closely, urging all nationals to act swiftly and secure their departure from Lebanon before options become further limited.