An Australian who was amongst over 400 evacuated from Lebanon has described leaving Beirut airport to the sounds of bombing amid
Two evacuation flights carrying 407 Australians departed Beirut airport on Saturday and arrived in Cyprus. The evacuees will keep in short-term lodging in Cyprus earlier than departing on .
Australian teenager Leah Lucas mentioned she heard bombing because the aircraft was about to depart.
“Whereas we have been sitting within the airplane simply earlier than takeoff there was numerous bombing, like round 500 meters subsequent to the airport, and as we have been about to take off we heard numerous bombing,” she advised Reuters.
“There was numerous youngsters frightened however thank God, like, we all know we’re out of that place now and, like, all we are able to do is simply pray for that state of affairs, pray for the individuals there that do not have the chance to depart like we did.”
Video equipped by the Reuters information company confirmed planes touchdown at Beirut airport within the midst of Israeli airstrikes.
Flames and smoke rise from an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, early Sunday, 6 October 2024. Supply: AP / Hussein Malla/AP
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles acknowledged the strikes across the airport.
“The suburb in Beirut the place there’s a Hezbollah presence shouldn’t be removed from the airport, and so we have now seen strikes close to the airport, however fortunately at this second the airport stays open,” he mentioned.
One other Australian man who landed in Cyprus and didn’t give his identify thanked Australian authorities for the evacuation measures.
“I used to be within the south. I misplaced my home, my youngsters misplaced their rooms, our garments. But it surely’s fantastic, life goes on. I want the perfect for Lebanon,” he advised Reuters.
“I really feel very unhappy leaving my nation, however I am very completely satisfied to start out a brand new life in Sydney.”
Because the second flight arrived in Cyprus, Australian Excessive Commissioner to Cyprus Fiona McKergow described the combined feelings of these leaving.
“They’re exhausted, exceptionally completely satisfied to be right here however heartbroken as a result of they left household behind,” McKergow mentioned.
On Sunday evening AEDT, two extra flights will take off from Beirut for the 45-minute journey to Larnaca.
Overseas Minister Penny Wong mentioned as we speak’s evacuation flights to Cyprus are absolutely booked.
“Please don’t journey to Beirut airport until you’ve a confirmed seat,” she wrote on X, previously Twitter.
“Extra flights are deliberate for coming days, topic to demand and the safety state of affairs.”
The primary homeward-bound flight, with Qatar Airways, will depart Cyprus earlier than midnight on Sunday AEDT.
Qantas will function two 22-hour flights from Larnaca to Sydney on Monday, which can arrive on Tuesday, and on Wednesday.
Australian deputy prime minister Richard Marles mentioned the federal government may be very centered on Australians in Lebanon. Supply: Provided / Division of Overseas Affairs and Commerce
As of Sunday morning, 3,679 Australians have been registered with the Division of Overseas Affairs and Commerce as wanting to depart Lebanon, with 1,765 registered for info solely.
Marles mentioned there have been additionally variety of Australian defence plane on standby to help departures from Cyprus.
Australian Defence Pressure personnel are on the bottom in Cyprus, Marles mentioned.
“We do have a few C1-30 Hercules plane that are in Cyprus proper now. There’s a C17 Royal Australian Air Pressure aircraft which is on the bottom in Cyprus proper now and it will likely be relocating elsewhere inside within the area,” he mentioned.
for the primary time because it focused each Hezbollah and Hamas fighters.
With extra reporting by Australian Related Press.
