More than 100 Australians and their family members have been whisked out of Tel Aviv on a mercy flight fleeing the tensions in the Middle East.
The Australian Defence Force has facilitated a departure flight from Israel, carrying 119 Australians and their family members, as part of the government’s continuous support for citizens wishing to exit the region.
Australians in both Iran and Israel have been registering with the government for help amid the 12-day war between the two nations.
Images of Australians departing on the Tel Aviv flight surfaced overnight, coinciding with updates about the government’s recent initiatives to assist citizens and their loved ones.
It’s understood the Australian government is continuing to work to help others leave, looking for opportunities to do so amid the unrest.
Throughout the night, Israel’s airspace was accessible, enabling commercial airlines to resume outbound flights, although some limitations and restrictions remained in effect.
The Australian government encourages anyone with existing tickets for cancelled flights to keep speaking with airlines, as it may be the fastest way to reach their final destinations.
Wong acknowledged thousands of Australians were in a difficult situation.
“Obviously, this is a highly risky and precarious situation, and my heart goes out to Australians in Iran and in Israel, and to their friends and families in Australia who are so deeply worried about them,” Wong said.
Consular officers remain positioned at the Iran-Azerbaijan border to assist departing Australians.
Australians in need of urgent consular assistance should contact DFAT’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas) or 1300 555 135 (within Australia).
