Flights Being Organised to Get Australians out of Lebanon

Smoke rises from the site of a strike amid ongoing hostilities between the Hezbollah terrorist group and Israeli forces, in Beirut’s southern suburb early on Oct. 1, 2024. Fadel Itani/Getty Images

The Federal government is working to get Australians out of Lebanon amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Labor ministers Penny Wong and Clare O'Neil have both indicated the government is working on securing flights out of Lebanon.

In a post to X, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said several Australians in Lebanon were put on commercial flights on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2.

“We’re working to ensure Australians who want to leave Lebanon can continue to, including with partners such as Canada and the UK,” Wong said.

This comes after Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on Oct. 9, prompting 10 million Israelis to hide in bomb shelters for an hour. Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to retaliate.

Lebanon’s involvement stems from Hezbollah, a terrorist group backed by Iran that operates from the country. Israel forces have recently launched a limited ground operation in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah.

Wong said the government has secured extra seats for flights on Oct. 3 and is working to access more flights in the coming days.

“Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is contacting registered Australians with updates. Australians in Lebanon who wish to leave should ensure they are registered via DFAT’s crisis portal,” she said.

Housing Minister Clare O'Neil also revealed there are more than 15,000 Australians still in Lebanon on Oct. 2.

“Clearly to those people in Lebanon, it is not a safe place for you to be. Please get on commercial flights if you have those openings available,” she said during an interview with Sunrise.

The DFAT crisis portal enables Australians and their immediate families in Lebanon, Israel, and Gaza to register for assistance.

Deputy Opposition leader Sussan Ley has called on the Australian government to stand with allies including the U.S. to support Israel, describing it as the “only democracy in the Middle East.”

“I want to hear strong condemnation, and I want to hear a strong response from our government to that continuing unacceptable situation of hostages being held and action that can be taken,” she said.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has provided full support for Israel in a statement responding to the escalating conflict.

“As I have said, I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist militias,” she told reporters.

“I’m clear-eyed, Iran is a destabilising, dangerous force in the Middle East and today’s attack on Israel only further demonstrates that fact.”

However, Former President Donald Trump said that Iran was “in total check” during his presidency, and said, “If I win, we will have peace in the world again.”