Two mercy flights will rescue some Australians stranded in Lebanon as tensions rise in the region.
On Saturday, two government-supported charter flights will carry up to 500 passengers from Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, to Larnaca, Cyprus.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has confirmed that Qantas will also operate two flights from Cyprus to Sydney free of charge for eligible Australians, permanent residents and their immediate family members with the right of entry to Australia.
Ms Wong reiterated calls for Australians to leave the conflict zone while Beirut’s Rafic Hariri remains operational.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade figures suggest around 15,000 Australians normally reside in Lebanon, and there are concerns that not enough Australians have taken the opportunity to leave, despite the escalating conflict.
“Our message to Australians in Lebanon remains: now is the time to leave,” he said.
‘Please take the first flight option available. There is no guarantee of preferential flights or that these flights will continue.
Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes in Dahiyeh in Beirut, Lebanon, on Thursday.
The government has confirmed that two Qantas flights will take 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 still there “have decided to stay against explicit warnings from the Albanian government”.
He told Sky News that he and Foreign Minister Penny Wong had been “on the same side” for months when it came to telling Australians “don’t travel to Lebanon and leave if you’re there”.
It comes after opposition leader Peter Dutton called for the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador to Australia, Ahmad Sadeghi, for describing Hassan Nasrallah as a “remarkable leader”.
Nasrallah was secretary general of Hezbollah, a designated terrorist organization, before he was killed in Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon in September.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday he condemned the ambassador’s comments and any support for terrorist organisations, but highlighted the importance of Australia’s ties with Iran.
“Australia has had a diplomatic relationship with Iran since 1968… not because we agree with the regime but because it is 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 communicate our views and those of our allies.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the Lebanese ambassador’s comments but will not be asked to leave
His government has sanctioned Iranian individuals and entities, Albanese said, while the previous government maintained “silence on Iran.”
Dutton insisted the Iranian ambassador’s comments were “completely and absolutely at odds with what is best for our country.”
“The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister should show strength of character and expel him from our country,” he told reporters in Brisbane.
As violence rises in the Middle East, Australian politicians are urging Lebanon’s citizens to leave.
But so far evacuation flights have taken off with empty seats.
On a plane that left Lebanon on Thursday with 80 seats allocated for Australians, 41 people took up the offer and, although there are 500 seats available on a flight leaving on Saturday, 238 Australians have signed up so far.
“We have been warning for many months, pleading with people to leave Lebanon because it is not a safe place,” Mr Albanese said.
Israel has intensified its military actions against Lebanon, bombing areas of the country’s south and its capital, Beirut, in attacks that have killed hundreds of people.
Dutton also stressed that Australians in Lebanon should leave at the first opportunity.
‘If people are waiting for an RAAF flight, that will become increasingly difficult. “So I would just say they should follow the Prime Minister’s advice: 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 rises amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, seen from Tire in southern Lebanon on October 4.
Deputy Foreign Minister Tim Watts said that while Israel had the right to self-defense, he advocated a reduction in tension.
‘We need to break this cycle of violence that we are seeing in the region. “Nobody in the region is interested in seeing a regional conflict, and that’s really what we’re on the verge of right now,” he said.
When an agreement was reached to allow a protest to take place in Sydney on Sunday ahead of the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, police forces from across Australia issued a joint statement calling on attendees to go peaceful.
“Police are committed to keeping Australians safe and continue to work with all Australians, visitors, stakeholders, community leaders and faith leaders to ensure Australian laws are understood,” the statement said.
“Police are planning and preparing for upcoming protests in some states and territories.”
Albanese said the anniversary was a solemn occasion and “those planning any events on October 7 should think again.”