Joya Douaihy says she’s “never felt more anxious in her life” as her husband prepares to travel back home to Lebanon in a matter of hours.

In 2016, the new mum from Sydney, moved to Lebanon to live with her husband and has planned to go back at the end of August, despite travel warnings.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty with what’s going to happen, now that the Israeli strike hit Beirut. But we’re choosing to stay optimistic,” she told the ABC.

She said she was worried about her husband potentially getting stuck if flights got cancelled in transit.

“We chose to live there and this is the price. You get the good life in terms of family, lifestyle and community but you pay for it in terms of security and uncertainty.”

Loading…

In light of a potentially escalating war between Israel and Lebanon, Foreign Minister Penny Wong issued a video message urging Australians in Lebanon to leave. 

Senator Wong’s warning followed the killing of a top Hezbollah commander in the country and the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran.

“My message to Australian citizens and residents in Lebanon is: now is the time to leave. If you are in Australia and thinking of travelling to Lebanon – do not,” the foreign minister said.

Lebanese Australians ‘used to it’

But many Lebanese Australians across the country have said these warnings won’t change their plans to travel to their homeland.

Kasandra Elsheikh, a Lebanese Australian from Melbourne, just got back from a holiday in Lebanon a few weeks ago.

She has family in Lebanon and her brother’s wedding is being planned in the country for later in the year.

Her immediate and extended family all have flights booked to attend the wedding. They don’t plan on cancelling. 

Kasandra said her family was not phased by the warnings because “they were used to it”, having received similar advice during previous wars.

“War has been happening in Lebanon for [many] years.”

During her time there, Kasandra said she didn’t notice any fear of an escalating war from the locals.

“People in Lebanon are very chill. If you go there, they’re all used to it.

Many ‘disappointed’ as summer plans ruined 

The government estimates at least 15,000 Australians remain in Lebanon, but the real figure could be as high as 30,000.

The Lebanese community in Australia is complex and made up of Shia and Sunni Muslims, as well as Maronite Christians, making differing opinions common.

Robert Bekhazi from the United Australian Lebanese Movement (UALM) said in the past, a lot of Lebanese Australians would “take the risk” and travel to Lebanon despite warnings.

But he said after the recent Israeli air strike things have changed for many Lebanese Australians.

He and his family will “watch and see” what happens over the next week but will listen to advice warnings.

“I’ve got flights booked for New Year’s so I’m very disappointed if that doesn’t happen,” he said.

“Here we go again. Another summer of loss to Lebanon.”

Lebanon, much like most of the Mediterranean, sees a massive influx in tourism over the summer period and is a popular hotspot for expats and Lebanese migrants from all parts of the world.

“[During Summer,] people get to see family and friends. And unfortunately, the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East just means that one season after another is lost, which also has a devastating economic impact on that country,” Mr Bekhazi said.

The ABC understands flights to Lebanon are still available for purchase at this stage, but Smart Traveller issued advise to Australians in Lebanon to “leave immediately while flights remained available.”

They said there has been a do-not-travel warning to Lebanon since October 19, 2023.

Fears of conflict escalating

In Western Australia, Rana Al-Baghdadi, whose relatives live in south Lebanon, where strikes by Israel were carried out recently, said she was worried about what was to come.

“This is just making the situation so much harder … we’re very worried because we don’t know what to expect next.”

The principal of Al-Ameen College in Perth said she fears the conflict will get worse before it gets better.

“There is so much outrage amongst the Lebanese community because of what we see happening in Gaza, the indiscriminate bombing of innocent people,” Ms Al-Baghdadi said.

Loading…