Australia Firmly Rules Out Ground Troop Deployment in Iran Conflict
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has reiterated the Australian government's steadfast position that it will not deploy Australian Defence Force personnel into the ongoing conflict in Iran. This announcement comes as the government explores potential military support for Gulf nations targeted by Iranian strikes, while emphasising a strict avoidance of offensive actions.
Defensive Assistance Under Consideration for Gulf Allies
In an interview with the ABC's Insiders program, Wong confirmed that Australia has received requests for assistance from countries facing Iran's drone and missile attacks. She stated, "Many countries which are non-participants have been attacked by Iran through this. You would anticipate as a consequence that we have been asked for assistance and we will work through that carefully." When pressed, Wong clarified that this assistance would involve protecting these nations from Iranian assaults, aligning with the government's policy of not engaging in offensive operations against Iran.
Wong drew a clear distinction from past military engagements, asserting, "This is not Iraq, and we are not the Howard government. We are not asking Australians to accept Australian men and women being deployed into a ground war." She defended the government's stance on non-involvement in offensive action, even after it was revealed that three Australian personnel were aboard a US submarine that torpedoed an Iranian warship near Sri Lanka. Wong explained that such third-country deployments are routine and subject to Australian legal and policy oversight.
Evacuation Efforts Continue Amid Regional Tensions
Meanwhile, the government has intensified efforts to evacuate Australians from the Middle East following recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Since the conflict escalated, nine commercial flights have arrived in Australia from the region, with three more scheduled to land in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. Additionally, dozens of Australians have been transported by bus from Qatar to Saudi Arabia for flights out, due to limited airspace in Qatar.
Operation Beech, launched by the Defence Department on 5 March, supports these consular efforts by deploying a Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster and KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport as precautionary measures. However, the Labor government continues to advise Australians to use commercial flight options where possible. As of Sunday, 1,549 Australians have returned home via these flights, with further evacuations ongoing.
This development underscores Australia's cautious approach to international conflicts, balancing support for allies with a commitment to avoiding direct military entanglement in volatile regions.
