Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has once again urged Australians in Lebanon to leave in the wake of conflict between Lebanese terror group Hezbollah and Israel.
The Australian government’s “do not travel” warning for Lebanon remains in place, with advice maintaining that Australians should take the first available flight out of the country.
Wong, who is attending a United Nations summit in New York, said there was a risk of Beirut Airport being closed for an extended period of time.
Many flights out of Lebanon have been cancelled and Australian evacuation plans are not able to accommodate all Australian citizens in Lebanon, estimated to be around 15,000 to 30,000 people.
“Whilst we are doing what we can to prepare contingency arrangements, the numbers of Australians in Lebanon are beyond the capacity of the government to provide assistance to all,” she said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese backed Wong’s calls, noting that people have continued to travel to Lebanon against the government’s advice.
“We’ve been saying for months that people should leave,” he told ABC.
“It will be difficult to get everyone out quickly if that is required, which is why people should continue to leave if they can, by all means.”
Hezbollah has launched thousands of rockets into Israel’s north, with Israel retaliating with air strikes aimed at the terror group’s bases.
In July, an Iranian-made Hezbollah rocket landed in a Druze village in Israel, killing 12 children aged 10 to 16.
Other Hezbollah rockets have caused widespread wildfires in Israel and reportedly displaced tens of thousands of Israelis.
Israel’s most recent attack is reported to have targeted 1,600 sites and killed around 550 people.
Wong urged both Israel and Hezbollah to “show restraint and de-escalate,” while drawing comparisons with Israel’s war on Palestinian terror group Hamas.
“Lebanon cannot become the next Gaza,” she said.
Israel remains at war with Hamas in Gaza after the terror group launched an invasion into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in the death and kidnapping of more than 1,000 Israelis.
Around 100 Israelis are still being held captive by Hamas.
“Hostages must be released and aid must flow,” Wong said.
“What has happened in recent days only makes an immediate ceasefire in Gaza even more urgent.”
Australia recently committed a further $10 million (US$6.8 million) in aid to Gaza.
It comes as hundreds of pro-Hezbollah and Lebanon protesters took to the streets of Sydney on Sept. 25, with more rallies expected in coming days.
