Key Points
- The deployment will include an RAAF E-7A Wedgetail and medium-range air-to-air missiles.
- Anthony Albanese has stressed that Australia's involvement is "Our involvement is "purely defensive".
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that Australia will deploy a plane and missiles to assist countries in the Gulf against Iran's retaliatory strikes.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, Albanese confirmed the government had responded to a request by the United Arab Emirates and will deploy an RAAF E-7A Wedgetail to assist in the "collective self-defence of Gulf nations" for an initial period of four weeks.
The aircraft will provide long-range reconnaissance capability for the airspace above the Gulf states, and will be sent along with "advanced, medium-range air-to-air missiles".
In a major escalation to Australia's involvement, Albanese stressed the government was taking "defensive action".
"My government has been clear that we're not taking offensive action against Iran, and we've been clear that we are not deploying Australian troops on the ground in Iran," Albanese said.
He said the mission was in response to a "dangerous and destabilising" barrage of retaliatory missiles by Iran, following initial US-Israeli strikes, putting civilian lives, including Australians, at risk.
There are more than 20,000 Australians based in the UAE, with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade personnel deployed as part of crisis response teams to provide consular support on the ground.
"Our involvement is purely defensive, and it’s in defence of Australians who are in the region, as well as in defence of our friends in the United Arab Emirates, who are good friends of Australia and Australians," he said.
"We have a free trade agreement with them that’s opened up the markets of the Middle East."
Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed that the usual crew of 85 personnel will depart with the Wedgetail on Tuesday.
Marles said the high-tech airborne reconnaissance platform had been provided in other scenarios, like defending Ukraine, so the request for the aircraft was "not a surprise".
The Wedgetail is expected to be operational in the region by the end of the week.
Albanese also revealed he had a "warm" discussion with United States President Donald Trump in the early hours of Tuesday morning, primarily about members of the Iranian women's soccer team.
The call came ahead of the government offering the athletes humanitarian visas, which five of the women have accepted.
Australians who want to leave Middle East told to 'do so now'
Foreign Minister Penny Wong reiterated calls for Australians who want to leave the region to take advantage of available flights, with attacks continuing to escalate.
Wong said the majority of Australians transiting through the region have made it back safely, with roughly 2,600 returning on commercial flights.
She confirmed that Qatar will operate a limited schedule of direct flights in the coming days after speaking to the Qatari prime minister overnight.
"There are many more Australians still in the Middle East, and we do understand these are difficult decisions for Australians and their families," Wong said.
"But can I echo what the prime minister has said. We encourage those who do wish to leave, do so now."
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