Source : Perth Now news
Defence personnel, military planes, and missiles are being deployed to the Middle East, as Australia’s involvement in the United States-Israeli war on Iran deepens.
Anthony Albanese on Tuesday announced the Australian Defence Force would send an E7A Wedgetail spy plane, defence personnel, and Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) to the Gulf following a written request from United Arab Emirates’ President Mohammed bin Zayed.
It comes after Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong confirmed last week two ADF aeroplanes were deployed to the region as authorities sought to help repatriate some 115,000 Australians stranded in the Middle East – many of whom had been attempting to transit through the Emirates.
Ms Wong on Tuesday said as many as 24,000 Australians were in the UAE at the start of the conflict, with some 1500 rockets and drones shot down over its airspace or en-route, including after strikes on Dubai airport and civilian infrastructure.
No boots on ground
Addressing Tuesday’s announcement, she continued: “We do believe that it is the right thing to provide defensive military assistance to Gulf countries for the purposes of ensuring that rockets and drones can be intercepted. And that is what we have done”.
NED-14772-Australia’s contribution to Iran War
Ms Wong denied the assets would be involved in any offensive action.
“Australian Defence Force assets operate in accordance with Australian law, in accordance with Australian policy and in accordance with Australian directives,” she told ABC Radio Sydney.
While Mr Albanese and leading ministers have been adamant Australia will not put boots on the ground in Iran in the case of a ground invasion by the United States, Australia’s involvement in the war has steadily increased.
According to publicly available information, the ADF maintained a presence in seven missions throughout the Middle East at the outbreak of the war.
Those forces included missions to support a ceasefire in Syria and protect sealanes from attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militia.
Other personnel were also deployed to Bahrain and the Sinai in Egypt.
Last week, three ADF personnel were confirmed to have been on-board a US submarine that sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, killing at least 87 people.
NED-14772-ADF presence in the Middle East
Mr Albanese denied, however, that the personnel “participated in any offensive action against Iran”.
An October parliamentary hearing was told “more than 50” ADF personnel were currently service on US fast-attack submarines.
Officials earlier sought to calm fears after an Iranian strike on an airbase housing Australian troops.
Al Minhad Air Base is located about 25km south of Dubai.
The facility is operated by the UAE air force and is the headquarters of Australia’s Joint Task Force 633.
It has been involved in operations against the Islamic State group in Iraq and supporting forces in Afghanistan.
Across the region, Australia and the United States’ allies have also steadily increased their involvement.
A number of warships from France and other European allies are expected to travel to Cyprus following an attack on a British base there which originated from Lebanon.
Closer to home, New Zealand has also deployed two NZDF C-130J Hercules for possible repatriation efforts.
