Australia has begun the evacuation of its citizens from Lebanon through Cyprus as hostilities intensify between Israel and Hezbollah. On Saturday, a chartered commercial flight brought approximately 229 evacuees to the eastern Mediterranean island, which is only a short flight from Beirut. A second flight is planned later in the day, and more are anticipated based on the level of demand, according to Australian and Cypriot officials.
Upon arrival at Larnaca airport in Cyprus, the evacuees were guided from the aircraft into a terminal and onto waiting coaches. Australian military personnel provided refreshments, including apples and water, to those on board. Fiona McKergow, Australia’s High Commissioner to Cyprus, noted the mixed emotions of the evacuees: they were relieved to be safe but saddened to leave family members behind.
The ongoing Israeli military actions against Hezbollah have prompted multiple countries to utilize Cyprus as a hub for evacuating their nationals. In recent weeks, there has been a significant increase in attacks, following a period of lower-level conflict. Cyprus has previously served as a critical evacuation point, assisting nearly 60,000 people during the heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.
Some evacuees expressed doubts about returning to Lebanon. Dana Hameh, 34, described her traumatic experiences and stated, “I feel very sad leaving my country but I’m very happy to start a new life in Sydney. Life goes on. I wish the best for everyone.”