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Thousands stuck in Lebanon

(166 Posts)
nanna8 Tue 01-Oct-24 11:52:48

Thousands of Aussies are now stuck in Lebanon as attacks are increasing. Hopefully our government will arrange to get them out but they are seldom quick in these sort of circumstances. Things are not looking good in the Middle East.

ronib Thu 03-Oct-24 19:51:46

Casdon One thousand miles seems nothing for asylum seekers these days. We have a fair number coming from this distance I understand.

ronib Thu 03-Oct-24 19:47:39

valdavi. But I honestly thought that Lebanon and Iran were working together against Israel. For example, the extensive network of tunnels in Southern Lebanon are seen as a direct threat to Israel. Maybe a better tactic would be to dismantle the tunnels and work on diplomacy with Israel?

valdavi Thu 03-Oct-24 19:32:57

Israel likes to posture how strong & hardline they are, but they are only as strong as American power makes them. They could not sustain themselves in their present attitude without external support. However they appear to take absolutely no notice of any American cautionary advice or ceasefire initiatives.Hotheads.

Casdon Thu 03-Oct-24 19:31:14

Iran is also 1000 miles by air from Lebanon, through Syria and Iraq?

valdavi Thu 03-Oct-24 19:26:48

Lebanon & Iran are very different regimes. Why ever should lebanese citizens be expected to go to refugee centres in Iran? Plus it's unsafe to migrate on foot across wartorn, depopulated Syria. There's no civil war in Lebanon -people don't want or need to leave except that it's under attack from a neighbouring state & surely the answer is to rein that neighbouring state in.

Babs03 Thu 03-Oct-24 19:26:43

ronib

I thought Iran had good diplomatic relations with Lebanon? OldFrill

No. Iran supports Hezbollah in the South who are Shi’ite Muslims the same as Iranians, Hezbollah are not the sum of Lebanon, they account for just one area. There are many Lebanese Sunni Muslims and Christians who make up over two thirds of the population.
The Lebanese people are not natural allies of Iran and don’t think too highly of Hezbollah in the South, so they won’t be relying upon Iran for help

ronib Thu 03-Oct-24 19:11:28

I thought Iran had good diplomatic relations with Lebanon? OldFrill

OldFrill Thu 03-Oct-24 19:01:27

ronib

I asked Mr Ronib why countries nearest to Lebanon were not offering humanitarian assistance and setting up refugee centres. His response was that no one would help them so that Israel would continue to be seen in the worst possible way. Bit depressing.

Lebanon hosts a million and a half Syrian refuges - that's its neighbour. There is no other neighbour to help Lebanon.

Wyllow3 Thu 03-Oct-24 18:51:19

Syria is the only neighbour - poor, at war, already a place people leave as migrants. So - nowhere to go.

ronib Thu 03-Oct-24 18:45:31

I asked Mr Ronib why countries nearest to Lebanon were not offering humanitarian assistance and setting up refugee centres. His response was that no one would help them so that Israel would continue to be seen in the worst possible way. Bit depressing.

OldFrill Thu 03-Oct-24 17:51:39

tickingbird

^Why would anybody from Israel or Lebanon destroy paperwork?*

No idea. Who said they would??

Today 08:38Coronation

I agree Ronib. Sadly there may be economic migrants who destroy papers and claim to be from Israel making it more difficult for genuine asylum seekers.

tickingbird Thu 03-Oct-24 14:09:07

^Why would anybody from Israel or Lebanon destroy paperwork?*

No idea. Who said they would??

growstuff Thu 03-Oct-24 12:53:19

tickingbird

eggplant

Coronation
I agree Ronib. Sadly there may be economic migrants who destroy papers and claim to be from Israel making it more difficult for genuine asylum seekers.
Really? How do you know this?

It’s well documented.

Where? Or was that some kind of pun?

Why would anybody from Israel or Lebanon destroy paperwork?

tickingbird Thu 03-Oct-24 12:47:38

eggplant

Coronation
I agree Ronib. Sadly there may be economic migrants who destroy papers and claim to be from Israel making it more difficult for genuine asylum seekers.
Really? How do you know this?

It’s well documented.

growstuff Thu 03-Oct-24 12:41:05

Babs03 I agree with your post of 07.01.57.

Israel is never going to be a safe country. How on earth anybody can think that is beyond me. It needs its Iron Dome and safe rooms.

I hope everybody knows the history of the creation of the state of Israel, so I won't repeat it. European anti-semiticism wasn't the responsibility of Arabs in the Middle East, yet the population was just expected to hand over land without a whimper. Since the end of WW2 Israel has expanded its territory. Why should the original inhabitants be expected to accept that? Why should the people in countries surrounding Israel just be expected to forget about history? There will be resentment for many years yet - the terrorists of the future haven't even been born yet. If Israel wants relative safety, it needs to change its strategy from destroying every single enemy it has because that just isn't going to happen. It really does need an endgame.

ronib Thu 03-Oct-24 12:38:39

Of course the war in Ukraine has also seen a huge influx of its population which is why eventually Russia will win a resounding victory. So many stupid politicians….

Wyllow3 Thu 03-Oct-24 12:32:11

Already in economic crisis, foreign nationals living and working in businesses in Lebanon suddenly pulling out is going to increase the possibly devastating effects of this war on the population in the longer term. I hope that a second Gaza is not being planned.

OldFrill Thu 03-Oct-24 12:21:15

This details countries current and planned evacuation intentions

newseu.cgtn.com/news/2024-10-03/How-are-countries-planning-to-evacuate-their-citizens-from-Lebanon--1xnCzUxPI9G/p.html

nanna8 Thu 03-Oct-24 12:05:18

Last time there was a war in Lebanon (2006) they did block the airports so some got out by sea. They may well have to do the same this time ronib There are about 15,000 Australians there , only a few have managed to get out . They were warned but people tend to ignore warnings until there are actual weapons involved and they can see for themselves, sadly.

winterwhite Thu 03-Oct-24 11:51:42

*Ronib
I am not being obtuse but it did strike me that the civilians caught up in this conflict are true asylum seekers as opposed to economic migrants. I think more needs to be done by the rest of the world to protect them.*

Agree, but this country has a poor memory when it comes to the point. - Think Kosovo, think Afganistan

Wyllow3 Thu 03-Oct-24 11:35:54

BBC reporter on the scene 22 mins ago:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c8xe1174ldlo

maddyfour Thu 03-Oct-24 11:09:48

It’s reported that six people were killed in Beirut last night, with seven people being injured.
Thousands are not being killed, as claimed, due to the precision weapons Israel used.
Nonetheless every civilian killed is one too many.
Let’s hope this conflict will be over soon.

ronib Thu 03-Oct-24 10:46:30

Would the

ronib Thu 03-Oct-24 10:42:34

To answer nanna8 if routes to the airport are blocked and flights are very limited, would be the Australian government find evacuation by sea more workable?

Allira Thu 03-Oct-24 10:37:34

British citizens were urged to leave Lebanon a while ago. British troops are in Cyprus plus two RN ships are in the area ready to evacuate civilians but how that would be carried out without escalating tensions is a matter for Armed Forces Chiefs and the Government.