Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged Thursday that “military assets” had been dispatched to the Middle East as a contingency measure. In response to escalating tensions following US-Israeli strikes against Iran, which resulted in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggered regional conflicts, countries have rapidly mobilized their citizens from the region.
Albanese informed the Australian parliament that the government had already dispatched six crisis management teams into the area. Additionally, he highlighted that military assets had been deployed as part of contingency planning earlier in the week. “I thank those Australians going into a dangerous situation to assist their fellow Australians,” Albanese stated during his speech.
Despite not providing specific details about the nature of these assets, local media outlet SBS News reported they were likely composed of planes. The Australian leader did not elaborate further on this contingency measure. While Australia estimates it has 115,000 citizens in the Middle East region, New Zealand swiftly followed suit by ordering two military aircraft to prepare for evacuations of its nationals.
Albanese’s announcement came against a backdrop of increasing regional instability and heightened concerns over escalating violence. As diplomatic efforts continue, both governments are preparing their citizens for any potential risks in what has become an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape.