Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced on social media platform X that non-essential officials in Lebanon have been instructed to leave due to the worsening security conditions. Wong emphasized that key Australian officials will remain in the country to assist Australians who may need help. This decision comes shortly after Canberra issued a similar directive for officials in Israel and the UAE, highlighting the gravity of the situation in the region.

According to the Australian government, there are approximately 115,000 Australian citizens currently in the Middle East, with around 2,600 already having returned home. Wong urged Australians in the region to leave if they can do so safely, cautioning them not to wait until it is too late. She described this as potentially the last opportunity for many to evacuate in light of increasing tensions and security risks.

Additionally, recent military actions, including strikes by the US and Israel that reportedly killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, have escalated the conflict in the Middle East. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes against Israel and Gulf states, further complicating the security situation and prompting countries like Australia to take precautionary measures for their citizens and officials in the region.