'It is hard': Relief mixes with grief as Lebanon repatriation flight lands

Returning passengers are now awaiting flights to their home states, after heartfelt reunions for those who are staying in Sydney.

“I feel relief but to be honest, it’s so hard leaving beloved ones behind,” one woman said.

“It is very hard. I’m very, very emotional.”

One man had an emotional reunion with his younger sister.

“I’m happy, you know. I’m her oldest brother. As you can see – look, she’s crying herself,” he said.

“Qatar brought us back here and they put me in first class,” another woman said.

“Thank you, Mr Albanese.”

Qantas has organised another repatriation flight, which will depart on Friday morning assuming the security situation does not change.

The government has repeatedly urged Australians in Lebanon to take the next flight available out of the country as Israel continues its incursion.

It is now estimated about a quarter of Lebanese territory is under Israeli military control.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden have spoken on the phone for the first time since August, spending nearly an hour in discussion.

Israel has overnight threatened Iran again with reprisal for Iran’s recent rocket attack, with Netanyahu saying their response will be “deadly” and “surprising”.

Israel’s ongoing attacks in Gaza continue as well, where the military says it is targeting Hamas.

But UN representatives say they are running out of ways to describe what has become a wasteland, where 51,000 children have been separated from their parents.