Australians are being advised not to travel to any part of Lebanon as the security situation deteriorates amid the neighbouring Israel-Gaza conflict.
Key points:
- Smartraveller has changed the travel advice to Lebanon to 'do not travel'
- The advice warns terrorist attacks could occur anytime and anywhere
- In Lebanon, tear gas and water cannons have been fired at protesters
Smartraveller, which is run by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), has changed the travel advice to Lebanon to "do not travel", citing the "volatile security situation".
The advice warns terrorist attacks could occur anytime and anywhere, including in Beirut, and urges Australians who wish to leave the country to do so on the first available commercial flight.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong told the Senate on Thursday afternoon the government was "deeply concerned by violent protests across the Middle East, including Lebanon" and urged Australians to consider leaving.
"Commercial departure options remain available but this may change with little notice during a crisis," she said.
The upgraded advice comes after both the US and UK governments issued the same warning to their citizens.
The advice for Syria is also “do not travel”.
Smartraveller advice for Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Egypt is to “reconsider your need to travel”.
Protests have erupted across the Middle East following an explosion that killed a significant number of people at a Gaza hospital.
In Lebanon, tear gas and water cannons have been fired at protesters who were throwing projectiles near the US Embassy in Beirut.
'Massive concern' among Lebanese community in Australia
There are approximately 15,000 Australians in Lebanon, according to DFAT, and about 250,000 Australians reported Lebanese ancestry in the 2021 census.
Lebanese Muslim Association secretary Gamel Kheir said the new updated travel advice was "really concerning" and had created yet more angst within the community.
"We all have family back home in Lebanon and that's the main concern that we have," he said.
"So there would be massive concern about the safety of those families who are already struggling.
"There's no government, the economy's failed, the Lebanese lira has gone into hyperinflation, so this just adds another level of concern, now we're talking about the concern of human life."
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2023-10-19 05:16:55Z
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