One of the chartered flights at Beirut Airport. Picture: DFAT
TWO Australian Government charted flights evacuated up to 500 passengers out of Beirut as the Defence Force sent personnel and aircraft to the region.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed that two Qantas flights were used to ferry the citizens to Larnaca, Cyprus.
The government also helped secure passage for Australians with other airlines including a Canadian flight which had 41 Australians on board.
“Our message to Australians in Lebanon remains – now is the time to leave,” DFAT said.
“Please take the first flight option that is available. There is no guarantee of preferred flights or that these flights will continue.”
Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel, and RAAF C-130J Hercules aircraft, have deployed.
An Australian Defence Force statement says the deployment is a precautionary measure to support Australian citizens and others should the security situation worsen.
In an interview in Sydney on Friday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says there is a great deal of concern about the events and for Australians living in Lebanon.
“We have been warning for many months now, pleading with people to please leave Lebanon because it is not a safe place,” he says.
“Beirut Airport is located in the south and we remain concerned.”
PM Albanese says planning for the safe passage of Australians has been in the works and urged anyone who can leave that country to do so.
“We have been saying at every opportunity for months now that people should leave Lebanon, and indeed arguing and putting the case as well, that people should not continue to go to Lebanon, which has been occurring,” he says.
“In the last month, some people from Australia have chosen to go to Lebanon, which is not safe at the moment.”
Mr Albanese says Australia has joined the US, Canada, European Union, Italy, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE in calling for a de-escalation in the region.
“Of course, Israel has a right to defend itself but … the region needs de-escalation; the cycle of violence cannot continue without end. That is something that we will continue to work with partners on.”
Australians in the region seeking government support should register via DFAT’s Crisis Portal or by calling the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas) or 1300 555 135 (from within Australia).
