Australia has advised its citizens in Lebanon to evacuate immediately due to heightened risks of escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong emphasized the urgency in a video on the social media platform “X,” warning that the security environment could rapidly worsen, potentially without notice.
Wong highlighted concerns that Beirut airport might shut down if conditions deteriorate, leaving travelers stranded.
According to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs’ website, approximately 15,000 Australians live in Lebanon, a number that swells during the summer.
This cautionary statement follows a similar alert issued by the United Kingdom on Monday, which also recommended its citizens exit Lebanon due to ongoing diplomatic attempts to manage the situation with Israel and Hezbollah.
British Foreign Minister David Lammy echoed this sentiment in a post on “X,” advising against travel to Lebanon due to the quickly changing circumstances.
Similarly, Germany has called for its citizens to urgently depart from Lebanon because of the growing tensions.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has called on German citizens to leave Lebanon due to escalating tensions in the region.
Her renewed appeal follows the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, in Tehran, and the targeted strike on prominent Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Lebanon.
Baerbock stated that all German citizens in Lebanon should leave the country while they still can. She emphasized that in the current tense situation, every decision can either ease the situation or add fuel to the fire.
The German Foreign Ministry noted that everyone, especially Iran, should show restraint and de-escalate the situation for the sake of the people in the region.
Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of Haniyeh’s killing and have threatened retaliation. Hezbollah has not yet commented but has announced a speech by its leader Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday.
