Coalition: Make entering southern Lebanon, Bint Jbeil illegal

Parts of Lebanon should be designated a terrorist no-go zone to prevent any other Australian citizens joining Hezbollah, the Coalition has demanded.

Hezbollah fighters at the funeral of the Bazzi brothers in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon. Picture: AFP

Parts of Lebanon should be designated a terrorist no-go zone to prevent any other Australian citizens joining Hezbollah, the Coalition has demanded.

It comes after two Australians – brothers Ibrahim and Ali Bazzi – were killed in the Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil last week, the latter brother terror group Hezbollah claimed as one of its fighters.

“The foreign minister has the power to declare an area under the criminal code, which makes it an offence to travel there,” Opposition Home Affairs Spokesman James Paterson said.

“The Albanese government should consider doing so for southern Lebanon, consistent with the clear travel advice for months to avoid the area.”

Ibrahim Bazzi, his wife Shourouk Hammoud and Ali Bazzi were killed in an Israeli strike on Boxing Day.

Bint Jbeil is a Hezbollah stronghold, who are engaged in fighting with Israeli forces. Picture: AFP

In a statement, Hezbollah said “with great pride the Islamic Resistance celebrates the martyr Mujahid Ali Ahmed Bazzi ‘Qasim’”.

The group has not said Ibrahim Bazzi or Ms Hammoud were part of its organisation, nor is there a suggestion they were.

After Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said that the government was “establishing the facts”, Senator Paterson accused the Albanese administration of dropping the ball.

“It’s very concerning that the government appeared to have no idea that a citizen was apparently fighting for Hezbollah,” he said.

“They must pull out all stops to make sure that no more Australians travel to the region to fight for any listed terrorist organisations, whether it’s Hezbollah, Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad.”

Mr Paterson urged the government to clamp down, including Foreign Minister Penny Wong making it an offence to travel to the area.

“There are a number of tools available to the government, including offences for associating with a terrorist organisation, foreign incursion offences and passport cancellations,” he said.

Senator James Patterson. Picture: Gary Ramage

Section 119.2 of the criminal code made it an offence to “enter, or remain in, an area in a foreign country that is declared by the minister under section 119.3”.

The protocol has been previously used to stop people travelling to parts of Syria and Iraq at the height of ISIS.

According to the government: “the areas targeted by these provisions are dangerous locations in which listed terrorist organisations are engaging in hostile activities”.

Strategic Analysis Australia director Peter Jennings agreed that the government needed to act, including a potential “exclusion zone” around southern Lebanon.

“If the government does nothing it’s a green light to potential jihadis,” he said.

“It’s saying: ‘you can go and we’re not going to stop you’.”

Hezbollah released a commemorative picture of Ali Bazzi.

Mr Jennings said he suspected – due to government “inattention or inexperience” – a number of Australians had gone to fight already, and law enforcement should act before the conflict escalated.

“And the government won’t be able to ignore it, even if it’s domestically politically challenging,” he said.

Australian Strategic Policy Institute head of law enforcement John Coyne said security agencies were “far better experienced” dealing with terrorism than previously.

“One of the big challenges for the public is that much of the work is behind the scenes,” Dr Coyne said.

“You wouldn’t know how many have been, or would be, turned away at the border.”

Dr John Coyne.

Peter Jennings.

Dr Coyne said it was a “complex area” that dealt more with the “balance of probabilities” than hard evidence.

“It’s intelligence based... (and) looks at the information coming in and determines whether something is probable,” he said.

Dr Coyne said governments often “erred on the side of caution” and would be “closely monitoring” high-risk individuals.

“If you survive (fighting for a terrorist organisation) and you come back – and if they can prove it – you will be prosecuted,” he said, encouraging communities to “report” such cases.

“It’s a difficult proposition… (but we should be) asking people to report on those who might be travelling to fight.

“That’s better than (people) going and becoming further radicalised or killed.”

An ASIO spokeswoman said that the organisation was “concerned about any Australian who sought to support violent extremist groups, including by travelling offshore to engage in hostilities”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: Nikki Short

A Home Affairs spokeswoman said the government was “alert” to the potential for Australians travelling to fight and law enforcement considered those who return on a case-by-case basis.

“Australians who travel to fight with a terrorist organisation, or recruit or encourage, are committing a criminal offence,” she said, encouraging people to contact authorities if they suspected someone was travelling to fight.

“We have strong laws aimed at discouraging people travelling to engage in hostilities, including passport cancellations, and foreign incursions and recruitment offences.”

In December, the government introduced new laws to enable the High Court to revoke the Australian citizenship of dual citizens convicted of committing terrorism offences.

An Australian Federal Police spokeswoman said the force was “carefully monitoring” the conflict and any overseas-inspired domestic terrorism threats.

“The AFP, in partnership with our counter-terrorism partners, takes all individuals or groups who show support for violence seriously,” she said.

“We target criminals and criminal activity, not ideologies or backgrounds.

“Where a terrorism nexus is identified, joint counter-terrorism teams will act to disrupt any individuals that pose a risk to the Australian community.”