The first evacuation from Lebanon to Australia has touched down in Sydney. More than 1,200 have fled with government assistance following Israeli strikes in the region.
The flight carried 349 people seeking to escape the conflict in Lebanon with a further 3,892 Australians and their families registered to evacuate.
The arrivals expressed gratitude as they were welcomed at Sydney Airport by a crowd of friends and family. Dana Hamieh was among those repatriated and told the SBS that the situation in Lebanon was “terrifying”.
“We are very heartbroken, we are very exhausted after three days of no sleep, but at least now I know my kids are safe,” she said.
As reported by Al Jazeera, Israeli raids targeting the terrorist group Hezbollah escalated yesterday as suburbs in Lebanon’s capital Beirut were bombed. Hezbollah claimed that yesterday they had launched a series of missile strikes on northern Israel at 5pm local time. As of last Sunday, 1,400 people have been killed in Lebanon while 1.2 million have been internally displaced.
The federal government has continued to urge Lebanese-Australians in Lebanon to flee the country at their first opportunity. Foreign affairs Minister Penny Wong said in a press conference last Thursday that Australians wishing to leave should make sure they are registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
“This is really the time to leave,” she said. “We are very worried about the situation escalating if Beirut Airport closes, the options for departure become even less.”
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said last week that cross-border raids began when Israel targeted the terrorist group Hezbollah in retaliation for rocket strikes that have threatened border communities. Last year Hezbollah struck Israel in “solidarity” with Palestinians after the IDF began an operation in the Gaza Strip in response to the October 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas.
Six Australian government evacuation flights have completed their journeys so far and a further two flights scheduled to leave Beirut today. One of these flights should repatriate 220 people when it arrives in Sydney this evening.
Photo: A7-HHH | Qatar Amiri Flight | Airbus A340-541 | PEK by byeangel is available HERE and is used under a Creative Commons License. This image has not been modified.
