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The Australian Defence Force has confirmed that it will be aiding in potential evacuation missions of Australians in the Middle East amid the continuing war in the Gulf.
A special taskforce has been established to assist in the evacuations, should Australian citizens within the affected countries be deemed under immediate threat.
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“Defence remains ready to support DFAT-led whole-of-government contingency planning,” a Defence spokesperson told media in Canberra.
The Australian earlier reported that units at the Enoggera Barracks in Brisbane are on standby for the taskforce.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles said the federal government is exploring contingencies as heavy airspace restrictions were “obviously” affecting Australia’s operations.
“We have all the scenarios in mind and we are preparing as best we can for them,” he said.
Estimates suggest that over 100,000 Aussies may be stranded in the region, as over 12,000 flights have been cancelled at major international hubs, including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi.
“Typically around 11,000 Australians a day travel through the region, 11,000 every day, the majority through the United Arab Emirates,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.
“I am advised that a small number of commercial flights to other destinations were able to depart overnight, however, the unfortunate reality is that immediate resolution to this situation is unlikely.”
Speaking to media on Monday, the Foreign Minister said that commercial flights were the government’s preferred method for getting Australians home due to the numbers involved.
“Obviously, at the moment, airspace is closed or only intermittently open, so flights are disrupted and flights aren’t available. As soon as things become available, we will certainly be providing that information to Australians,” she said at the time.
“Given the numbers, the fastest way to get people home would be if commercial flights recommence. So, we want to see whether that commences. I think that most of our like-minded are in a similar position, given the numbers of people in the region.
“We are always looking at how we might support Australians. There’s conflict in the region, we’ve seen loss of life across the region, and air space is not open. So, whether or not it is an Australian flight or a commercial flight, the flights are not able to occur.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs has updated its travel warnings for Australians, issuing “Do not travel” orders to the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi and Qatar.
The RAAF and commercial airlines have previously evacuated Australians from Iran and Israel last year, from Israel in late 2023, and from Lebanon in 2024.
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