Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has joined the voice to urge Australians in Lebanon to return home immediately.
This call follows an Israeli drone strike in Beirut that killed a top Hezbollah commander and another strike in Iran that killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, raising fears of a broader escalation amid Israel’s war in Gaza.
During an interview on Sydney’s 2DayFM, Albanese expressed grave concern over the rising conflict.
“For Australians considering travel to Lebanon, please rethink your plans. Specifically, for those with family in Lebanon, we’ve issued a statement urging them to come home because Beirut airport may soon be inaccessible,” he said.
Highlighting the potential for increased conflict, Albanese added, “Hezbollah has a serious military force. If there is a conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, it will add to the catastrophe that we’re seeing in the Middle East, and we remain very concerned.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong echoed these concerns in a video message on X (formerly Twitter), urging Australian citizens in Lebanon to leave immediately.
“Now is the time to leave,” Wong said on July 31, warning of the potential for rapid escalation and the possible closure of Beirut airport.
She noted that the Australian government might not be able to assist citizens if the situation worsens.
Smartraveller, managed by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), updated its advisory on July 29.
It continues to recommend against travel to Lebanon and advises Australians there to leave immediately while commercial flights are still available.
This updated warning came after a rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and flight disruptions in and out of Beirut due to insurance risks.
The advisory highlighted the volatile security situation, stating, “Australians in Lebanon should leave immediately while commercial flights remain available. The security situation could deteriorate rapidly throughout Lebanon with little or no notice. Some airlines have postponed or cancelled flights. Further flight cancellations and disruptions could occur with little or no notice.”
Smartraveller first changed the travel advice to Lebanon to “do not travel” on Oct. 19, citing the volatile security situation.
The recent escalation included a rocket strike that hit a soccer pitch in a village in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 20.
Flights to and from Beirut were cancelled or delayed, with Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines (MEA) citing insurance risks as the cause of schedule disruptions.
Lebanese network Tele Liban reported that the attack resulted in seven deaths and 78 injuries, according to the civil defence authority.
