Australia has deployed military units to the Middle East as a precautionary measure amid rising regional tensions, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Thursday.
Speaking before the Australian Parliament, Albanese thanked Australian personnel heading into what he described as a dangerous environment to assist their fellow citizens.
The announcement follows earlier comments by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who said Australia would not participate in military operations in Iran and had ruled out deploying forces to the region if the conflict escalated.
Wong said the government is working with airlines to help Australians stranded in the Middle East, though evacuation plans remain complicated due to widespread airspace closures across the region.
About 115,000 Australians are currently in the Middle East, according to the government. Officials say the most practical way to return them home would be the resumption of commercial airline services, though authorities have not confirmed whether government-organized repatriation flights are planned.
The developments come as Iran faces ongoing US-Israeli airstrikes that began last Saturday, reportedly killing civilians and dozens of senior officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
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