Australians, many from the west burbs of Sydney have
flown to Beirut, Lebanon to join their
Shia muslim brothers in Hezbollah.
https://www.skynews.com.au/world-news/global-affairs/prime-minister-reveals-many-australians-travelled-to-lebanon-in-past-month-despite-do-not-travel-warning-from-dfat/news-story/8b4375ca6cbaf2ef0513021e238edb9e
The Prime Minister has revealed many Australians have decided to travel to Lebanon in the past month despite a strict ‘do not travel’ warning put in place by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.The warning was originally issued in October of last year and has remained in place since, with the government currently advising all Australians not to travel there and if they have, to leave immediately while commercial options were still available.
The region is teetering on the brink of an all-out war, with Israel this week attacking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon with airstrikes, as its Iron Dome defence systems worked to defend against the terror group’s own missile barrages.
The aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in the Dahiyeh region of Beirut on Friday. Picture: AP Photo / Hassan AmmarIran on Tuesday sent nearly 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to vow the country would “pay” for the attack.
Anthony Albanese said many Australians had still made the choice to travel to Lebanon over the past four weeks despite security advice, making the disclosure during a press conference in the south-west Sydney suburb of Cabramatta on Friday.
“The Australian Government and DFAT officials are doing their best under difficult circumstances,” he said.
“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 in the last month.
“Some people from Australia have chosen to go to Lebanon which is not safe at the moment.”
Mr Albanese pledged the government will continue to work with authorities, acknowledging it was a very difficult situation.
“The Australian officials will always do their best along with the Australian defence force to ensure that Australia's interests are looked after,” he added.
The Australian reported on Friday Qantas was in talks with the government to operate repatriation flights from Cyprus.
SkyNews.com.au has contacted DFAT for comment.
It comes after Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed Canadian partners have helped 41 Australians leave Lebanon amid growing calls to evacuate the region.
Ms Wong wrote on X on Friday morning the group of Australians had been able to depart, after announcing 580 repatriation seats had been secured on Thursday.
