Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong is urging Australians to leave Lebanon as quickly as possible amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. With fears of a wider regional war growing, the Australian government has secured additional seats on commercial flights for departing citizens.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong is urging Australia ns to take any available route out of Lebanon as the government ramps up efforts to assist thousands leaving the war-torn nation. Israel renewed its bombardment of Lebanon 's capital Beirut, a stronghold of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, on Wednesday after being on the receiving end of at least 180 missiles fired from Iran. Fears over a full-scale regional war have prompted several countries to start evacuating their nationals.
"Obviously, the operation of these flights will be subject to the security situation, and of course, the airport in Beirut remaining open, what I would say to Australians who wish to leave, please take whatever option is available to you," she said on Thursday. She warned the options would become more limited as time went on.
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