Australia started evacuating its nationals from Lebanon via Cyprus in its first large-scale operation to get citizens out of the country amid an Israeli onslaught on Hezbollah, Reuters reports.

Some 229 people arrived on the east Mediterranean island, a 40-minute flight away from Beirut, on a commercial airline chartered by Australia. A second flight is scheduled later in the day. More evacuation flights could be expected based on demand, Australian and Cypriot officials said.

At Cyprus’s Larnaca airport, civilians of all ages transferred from the aircraft into a terminal and then escorted onto waiting coaches. Children helped themselves to red apples and water provided by Australian military staff.

“They are exhausted, exceptionally happy to be here but heartbroken because they left family behind,” said Fiona McKergow, the Australian High Commissioner to Cyprus.