Two mercy flights will rescue some Australians stranded in Lebanon as tensions in the region escalate.
On Saturday, two government-supported charter flights will carry up to 500 passengers from Lebanon’s capital of Beirut to Larnaca, Cyprus.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has confirmed Qantas will also be operating two flights from Cyprus to Sydney at no charge to eligible Australians, permanent residents and their immediate family members with a right of entry to Australia.
Ms Wong reiterated calls for Australians to leave the conflict zone while the Beirut Rafic Hariri remains operational
Figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade suggest about 15,000 Australians normally reside in Lebanon, with concerns not enough Australians have taken up the opportunity to leave, despite the escalating conflict.
‘Our message to Australians in Lebanon remains – now is the time to leave,’ she said.
‘Please take the first flight option that is available. There is no guarantee of preferred flights or that these flights will continue
Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes at Dahiyeh in Beirut, Lebanon, on Thursday
The government has confirmed two Qantas flights will fly passengers from Cyrpus to Sydney
Earlier on Friday, Coalition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said there are ‘limits’ to what Australia can do to help Australians in Lebanon.
Senator Birmingham said on Friday the possibility of Australians dying in Lebanon was ‘a concern’, but that those who were still there ‘have chosen to stay against explicit warnings from the Albanese government’.
He told Sky News that he and Foreign Minister Penny Wong had been ‘on a unity ticket’ for months when it came to telling Australians ‘do not travel to Lebanon and leave if you are there.’
It comes after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton called for Iran’s ambassador to Australia Ahmad Sadeghi to be expelled for describing Hassan Nasrallah as a ‘remarkable leader’.
Nasrallah was secretary-general of Hezbollah, a designated terrorist organisation, before being killed in Israeli air strikes in Lebanon in September.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday said he condemned the ambassador’s comments and any support for terrorist organisations, but noted the importance of Australia’s links with Iran.
‘Australia has maintained a diplomatic relationship with Iran since 1968 … not because we agree with the regime but because it’s in the national interest,’ he told reporters in Sydney.
‘It has never been an endorsement of the regime but it has been a channel to protect Australia’s interests and to communicate our views and the views of our allies.’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned comments from the Lebanese ambassador but he won’t be asked to leave
His government has sanctioned Iranian individuals and entities, Mr Albanese said, while the former government maintained ‘silence about Iran’.
Mr Dutton insisted the Iranian ambassador’s comments were ‘completely and utterly at odds with what is in our country’s best interests’.
‘The prime minister and the foreign minister should show the strength of character and expel him from our country,’ he told reporters in Brisbane.
As violence escalates in the Middle East, Australian politicians are urging citizens in Lebanon to leave.
But evacuation flights have so far taken off with empty seats.
A plane that left Lebanon on Thursday with 80 seats allocated for Australians had 41 people take up the offer and though 500 seats are available on a flight leaving on Saturday, 238 Australians have registered so far.
‘We have been warning for many months now, pleading with people to please leave Lebanon because it is not a safe place,’ Mr Albanese said.
Israel has intensified military action against Lebanon, bombing southern parts of the nation and its capital Beirut in attacks that have killed hundreds of people.
Mr Dutton also stressed that Australians in Lebanon should leave at the first opportunity.
‘If people are waiting for a RAAF flight, that is going to get more and more difficult. So I would just say that they should heed the advice of the prime minister: book that commercial flight now and get out of harm’s way,’ he said.
Israel has threatened retaliation against Iran for a missile attack.
Smoke billows amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Tyre, southern Lebanon on October 4
Assistant Foreign Minister Tim Watts said while Israel had the right to self defence, he pleaded for a de-escalation of tension.
‘We need to break this cycle of violence that we’re seeing in the region. It’s not in anyone’s interest in the region to see a regional conflict, and that’s really what we are on the brink of at the moment,’ he said.
As a deal was struck to allow a Sydney protest to go ahead on Sunday ahead of the first anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, police forces from across Australia issued a joint statement calling for attendees to be peaceful.
‘Police are lock-step in keeping Australians safe, and continue to work with all Australians, visitors, stakeholders, community leaders and leaders of faith to ensure Australian laws are understood,’ the statement said.
‘Police are planning and preparing for upcoming protests in some states and territories.’
Mr Albanese said the anniversary was a solemn occasion and ‘that those planning any events on October 7 should think again’.
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