Canberra/Beirut: Australia has advised approximately 15,000 of its citizens residing in Lebanon to leave immediately, citing concerns that Beirut’s airport may shut down and highlighting the difficulties in organizing mass evacuations if the situation deteriorates further.
As Israel ramped up airstrikes in Lebanon on Wednesday, at least 72 people were reported killed. Israel’s military chief has also suggested the possibility of a ground assault. In response, Britain has begun moving troops to Cyprus to potentially assist in evacuating British nationals trapped in Lebanon. Two Royal Navy ships are already stationed in the region.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed that the government has developed contingency plans, which may include evacuations by sea. However, he refrained from providing specific details. “We’re looking at every option, but there’s obviously national security issues,” Albanese said during an interview with Sky News.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong, speaking from the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, warned of the potential for Beirut’s airport to close for an extended period. She urged Australian citizens to leave the country while they still can. Wong also mentioned her meeting with her British counterpart, where they discussed the urgent need for a ceasefire in Lebanon.
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According to the Australian Foreign Ministry, around 15,000 Australians currently reside in Lebanon. “Given the large numbers we are talking about, this situation will be difficult to resolve,” Albanese commented during a broadcast on ABC Television. He added, “We’ve been meeting on this through appropriate bodies over a period of time, including engaging with our friends and allies.”
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Australia has had experience with large-scale evacuations in Lebanon before. In 2006, during the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, Australia evacuated over 5,000 of its citizens and 1,200 foreign nationals from Lebanese ports, with the assistance of Syria, Jordan, Cyprus, and Turkey. That operation, Australia’s largest-ever evacuation, involved 17 ships, 22 Australian aircraft, and more than 470 buses.
