The Australian Defence Force has deployed personnel and aircraft to the Middle East to assist with the evacuation of Australians stranded in Iran and Israel, Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed on Friday.
‘ADF personnel and aircraft are being deployed to the Middle East as part of the operation – to help Australians but not for combat,’ Senator Wong said.
‘We are sending defence assets to help Australians – they are not there for combat.’
There are about 2,000 Australians and their families currently in Iran, along with around 1,200 in Israel, who want to evacuate.
The government has already helped Australians flee Israel using a border crossing to Jordan, and some of those people only got 55 minutes to get moving.
Senator Wong said it would be extremely difficult for Australians to leave Iran because the airspace is closed.
‘We are really conscious it is difficult. I wish it were not so, I wish that we had more capacity to assist but the difficult reality is the situation on the ground is extremely unstable.
Australian Defence Force personal have been deployed to the Middle East to evacuate Aussies stranded in Iran and Israel
Due to the security situation and the risk of airstrikes, aircraft cannot currently fly in or out of Iran.
Instead, consular staff have been deployed to Azerbaijan, the nearest accessible land border from Tehran – an eight-hour journey by road.
‘We are doing everything we can to assist Australians who reach the border,’ Senator Wong said.
Following the closure of the Australian embassy in Tehran and the withdrawal of diplomatic staff, the government is urging any Australians still in Iran to leave if it is safe to do so.
‘We urge Australians who are able to leave Iran to do so now if it is safe. Those who are not able to do so or who do not wish to leave are advised to shelter in place.
‘We continue to plan to support Australians departing Iran and we remain in close contact with partner countries.’
Those attempting to leave for a neighbouring state have been warned to consider the risks, as borders may close without notice and roads are exposed to attacks.
There are also different visa rules for many of the bordering nations including Armenia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Australians have been advised not to travel to Afghanistan, Iraq or parts of Pakistan that border Iran.
Overnight Trump, who has kept the world guessing about whether the US might join the war on Israel’s side, said he would make a decision within the next two weeks.
‘Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,’ press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters in Washington, quoting a message from the president.
The conflict between Israel and Iran erupted a week ago, when the former launched an attack against the Islamic republic’s missile capabilities, claiming it was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons.
Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 639 people and wounded 1300 others, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group.
Israel says Iran’s retaliatory strikes have killed at least 24 and wounded hundreds more.
Trump has demanded that Iran unconditionally surrender, saying he knew where Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was hiding.
Iran has warned of ‘all-out war’ if the US joins the fray.
