Australians Return Home Amid Escalating Lebanon Conflict

In a scene reminiscent of the pandemic era, emotional reunions unfolded at Sydney International Airport as 350 Australians arrived on a repatriation flight from Lebanon. Among them was Bilal Nassour, a sports writer from Sydney who found himself stranded in Beirut amid escalating conflict. “I have four daughters, one son, they all live here. They were all very worried,” Mr. Nassour said with relief as his daughter embraced him.

Mr. Nassour had traveled to Lebanon for work when an Israeli air strike hit the southern suburbs of Beirut on September 27. “They asked me to come back, but I couldn’t do anything,” he explained. As he documented the aftermath of the attack, he was unaware it marked the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. His attempts to find a safer area were thwarted as all were fully occupied. Fortunately, the Australian government facilitated his return just before the area he stayed in suffered another air strike.

Across the nation, a sense of relief has accompanied the return of compatriots. Lina Shahwan-Akl, a Melbourne-based professor, recounted her harrowing four-day journey home. “Although we were probably advised not to go there, we needed to help family,” she said. She described fear even on the flight home, “It was very scary… bombs falling near us, and we could hear them in the plane.”

Upon arrival, Ms. Shahwan-Akl expressed gratitude for the government’s assistance but reflected on the bittersweet nature of coming home. “It’s a great relief but you can’t hide the feelings of sadness for the family and the friends you left behind,” she remarked.

Currently, about 4,000 Australians and their families await evacuation from Lebanon, according to government reports. As the situation deteriorates, Foreign Minister Penny Wong emphasized that “vulnerable passengers” are prioritized and additional flights are under consideration. Nonetheless, future evacuations remain uncertain.

Recent flights have brought hundreds more to safety in Australia, with dramatic scenes playing out at both Sydney and Brisbane airports. Passengers like Lily Obaid expressed gratitude for making it home after a six-year absence from the Gold Coast. “It was really last minute, we packed everything and we went,” she told local media. Her mother, Julie Pritchard, recalled the stress of waiting, “Sleepless nights, sleepless weeks, every time you hear something it’s not good.”

There have been six charter flights so far, evacuating over 1,200 Australians and permanent residents. While 4,000 more remain, planning for further flights continues. The government advises those in Lebanon to take the first available opportunity to return to Australia.