Australia is coordinating the evacuation of its citizens from Lebanon, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong announcing on Thursday that 580 airline seats have been secured for flights scheduled on Thursday and Saturday. Wong urged the thousands of Australians still in Lebanon to take advantage of the available flights while they can.
The Australian government has reported that around 1,700 citizens and their families have expressed their intent to leave Lebanon. The country has a significant Lebanese community, with approximately 15,000 Australians typically residing there.
Wong emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Please take whatever option is available to you. Now is not the time for you to wait and see; now is the time to leave.” The government has been encouraging Australians to exit Lebanon for weeks, citing the challenges posed by the number of individuals needing evacuation.
Two flights set to depart for Cyprus on Saturday are contingent on the operational status of Beirut’s airport, Wong noted. “We are very worried about the situation escalating. If Beirut airport closes, the options for departing become even less,” she added.
While Australia has dispatched military aircraft to Cyprus as part of contingency plans, the primary focus remains on commercial flights while Beirut airport is open. Wong also reiterated her endorsement of the U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal in Lebanon aimed at halting the ongoing violence, a plan that has been rejected by Israel.