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The Australian government has said it is working to assist Australians trying to leave Lebanon as conflict escalates in the Middle East.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government has so far secured almost 600 seats on flights departing Lebanon, most if not all via Cyprus, and that “now is the time to leave”.
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Israel has escalated attacks on Lebanese soil in recent days, including ground operations in the country’s south and strikes on neighbourhoods in Beirut. Australians who wish to leave Lebanon are being urged to contact DFAT on +61 2 6261 3305.
“We’ve been working to assist those Australians who wish to depart, to depart. This has included working with partners, and also with commercial operators, to secure seats on flights,” Minister Wong said at a press conference on Thursday.
“At present, there are some 1700 Australians and their immediate family members registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade who have indicated that they wish to depart Lebanon, and we have been working this week to secure seats on flights.
“Some seats were secured on Monday and Tuesday, and I can confirm that we have secured 80 seats on flights that are leaving today. Only 35 of those seats have been taken up this morning. I can confirm we have secured an additional 500 seats for Australians, Australian permanent residents and their immediate family members on two flights to Cyprus, which will be leaving on Saturday.
“Obviously, the operation of these flights will be subject to the security situation, and of course, the airport in Beirut remaining open. What I would say to Australians who wish to leave is please take whatever option is available to you. Please do not wait for your preferred route.”
The minister did not confirm whether an RAAF plane stationed in Cyprus would be used for evacuations.
“We pre-positioned that plane for contingency arrangements. Obviously the Cyprus and then onward journey is the most obvious route, and that’s the route that will be being used for the 500 seats that I described earlier. People will be taken to Cyprus, and then they will be on onward journeys from there,” she said.
The government last year assisted Australians to leave Israel following the October 7 attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas, including through charter flights with commercial airlines such as Qatar Airways, Qantas and Emirates, and flights on RAAF aircraft.
