More than 100 commercial airline seats have been secured for Australians trying to leave Lebanon as dire warnings continue for people to evacuate amid an escalation of conflict in the region.
Flights across Monday and Tuesday carried dozens of Australians out, while another scheduled flight for Thursday will add to the tally.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Senior Labor MP Clare O’Neil urges Australians in Lebanon to leave the region and return home.
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It comes as Australians in Lebanon are urged to take any available option to get out of the country as the security situation deteriorates following an increase in missile strikes across Lebanon and Israel.
Iran launched some 200 missiles at Israel — most of which were shot down by its iron dome air defence system — in a widely condemned action that Israel has vowed to retaliate against.
“We’re very concerned about Iran’s actions, which is why we condemn them,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday as he reiterated calls for a ceasefire and de-escalation of conflict.
“There’s been too much loss of life in that region.
“Israel, of course, has a right to defend itself, what we have called for consistently is for a de-escalation.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said Australia needed to stand with Israel as “an important ally for us” but deflected a question on how far Israel’s right to self-defence should extend, saying it was a matter for them.
Multiple airlines have suspended flights out of Lebanon while others are diverting flight paths from Lebanese airspace due to safety concerns, with Israeli airstrikes having taken place near the airport.
Britain has chartered a repatriation flight and Canada has secured hundreds of commercial airline tickets for citizens across multiple days.
Australians in Israel have been told to follow local advice from authorities.
The federal government continues to work on contingencies to evacuate citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families from Lebanon should the situation deteriorate further.
But grave warnings have been issued that any effort cannot accommodate the approximately 15,000 Australians in the country, although exact figures are unknown.
“We again reiterate that people should take any opportunity that they can to leave, but the Australian government, of course, will always do our best to look after Australian citizens,” Albanese said.
Senior Labor MP Clare O’Neil said the government was doing everything possible to keep Australians in the region safe.
“Our main focus today is going to be Aussies who are stuck in the Middle East, and trying to do everything we canto help protect them,” O’Neil said on Sunrise on Wednesday.
“The Australian Government has been advising Australians not to travel to Lebanon, and for those there in Lebanon to get out as quickly as they can.
“There are roughly 15,000 Australians still in Lebanon, and the Australian Government is doing what it can to assist those people.
“But we say very clearly to Australians who are in Lebanon, this is not a safe place for you to be.
“Please get on commercial flights if you have those options available.
“And we’ll continue to work with those Aussies, because we want to keep all our citizens safe at a time like this.”
Australians protest inadequate response
Iran’s attack comes at a tumultuous time in Australia, following Israeli strikes in Lebanon that killed hundreds in what it said targeted listed terror group Hezbollah.
Pro-Palestinian and Lebanese communities took to the streets in protest.
Many decried the federal government’s response as inadequate or “weak” as it failed to use the same language condemning the attacks as it did for those that targeted Israel.
But the focus has been on a small number who waved Hezbollah flags and pictures of its assassinated leader at the protest, with the Australian Federal Police investigating the situation under anti-terror laws.
AFP Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett said she was “confident we would have matters to put before the court as a result of our investigations” into the Melbourne protests.
NSW Police have launched a legal bid to stop pro-Palestine rallies and a vigil held ahead of, and on the anniversary of, Hamas’ terror attack against Israel.
State Premier Chris Minns said it would likely stir community tensions, while the prime minister said sensitivities around the anniversary needed to be recognised as any action would be perceived as insensitive.
Organisers dispute this, saying dozens of previous rallies had been peaceful and vigils would recognise the tens of thousands of people killed in Gaza.
