Australia asks its citizens to leave Lebanon

ANKARA

Australia on Monday asked its citizens to leave Lebanon following escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

“The security situation in Lebanon could rapidly deteriorate. Australians in Lebanon should leave immediately while commercial flights are available,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on X.

Australia, the minister said, is “gravely” concerned about escalation in the Middle East.

“Further hostilities put civilians at risk,” she added.

Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified recently amid an escalation in cross-border warfare since the start of Israel’s deadly war on the Gaza Strip, which has killed nearly 41,400 victims, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group, Hamas, on Oct. 7 last year.

Wong also announced that Canberra will provide an additional $10 million in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank.

The funding will go to UNICEF and UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and will provide lifesaving assistance.

“We continue to push for safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access in Gaza,” she added.