The Australian government is considering offering military support to help Gulf nations facing attacks from Iran, but will not be involved in any deployment of ground troops to Iran, the foreign minister said.
The government confirmed that nine flights had arrived in Australia from the Middle East since the US and Israeli attacks on Iran a week ago, and that a further three flights would arrive on Sunday. Dozens of Australians have also been bussed from Qatar, which has limited airspace, to Saudi Arabia to fly out of the region.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed to ABC’s Insiders on Sunday that the government has been asked to provide assistance against Iran’s missiles.
“Many non-participating countries have been attacked by Iran through this,” Wong said.
“You might anticipate that, as a consequence, we have been asked for help and we will deal with it carefully. And, of course, that is the case.”
Sign Up: AU Breaking News Email
Asked if that meant assistance in protecting them against Iranian drone and missile attacks, Wong said: “Correct. And we will work on that in accordance with the position that I have outlined, which is that we do not engage in offensive actions against Iran.”
The announcement is a further step for the government, which has maintained that it will not participate in any “offensive” military action against Iran.
Wong reiterated that the government would not deploy Australian defense force personnel to the conflict.
“This is not Iraq, and we are not the Howard government, we are not asking Australians to agree to Australian men and women being deployed to a ground war,” Wong said.
“We have made very clear the basis of the decision and the parameters of our commitment.”
Wong again defended the government’s claim that Australia has not been involved in offensive actions, after it was confirmed on Friday that three Australian personnel were on board the US submarine that torpedoed an Iranian warship near Sri Lanka.
He said deployments of Australian personnel to third countries “are not new”, but added that any Australian deployed overseas would remain subject to Australian law.
“It is not new for Australian defense personnel to be involved in this way. When deployed… we always have arrangements to ensure personnel comply with Australian law, Australian policy and Australian directives.”
On 5 March, Defense launched Operation Beech, part of the consular effort to provide assistance to Australians stranded in the Middle East, deploying a Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster heavy transport aircraft and a KC-30A multi-role tanker aircraft as a precaution.
Labor has continued to order Australians to use commercial flight options to return home.
On Sunday, the government confirmed that 1,549 Australians arrived in Australia on nine commercial flights from the United Arab Emirates. There are three other flights from the United Arab Emirates landing on Sunday in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. A total of 92 Australians have been bussed from Qatar to Saudi Arabia, while Qatar Airways informed the government that 68 Australians left Doha on Saturday for Europe.
