Australians in Lebanon are being urged to leave the country immediately, as escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah continues to threaten safety.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has expressed alarm over the conflict’s intensification, warning that Australia lacks the capacity to evacuate all its citizens from the region.
Around 15-thousand Australians reside in Lebanon, with numbers increasing during the summer months.
Aid organisations, including Save the Children and ActionAid, have suspended operations after recent Israeli airstrikes killed hundreds, including children, and injured thousands.
The Foreign Minister is working with international partners to strengthen protections for humanitarian workers, after Australian Zomi Frankcom was killed in Gaza in April, by an Israeli airstrike.
The government is pushing for greater international efforts to safeguard civilians and aid workers in conflict zones, while also pressing Israel for accountability.
The United States has deployed additional troops to the region, with nations in the region calling for more global pressure to prevent further escalation.