Australian troops stationed at the Al Minhad airbase in the United Arab Emirates are safe and accounted for after a drone strike over the weekend, the federal government has confirmed. The attack occurred amid escalating conflict following US and Israeli bombings in Iran, which prompted retaliatory strikes by Iran on nearby countries.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Tuesday that all Australian personnel at the base were uninjured. “All the Australians who are there are safe and accounted for,” he stated. Australia has more than 100 personnel across the Middle East, with most based at Al Minhad, which has housed an operational headquarters for many years.
The government defended the US-Israeli strikes, despite criticism from international law experts who argued they lacked legal authorisation. Marles told ABC TV that Iran had been seeking to acquire a nuclear weapon, breaching non-proliferation agreements, but said it was “a matter for the United States and Israel to justify the legal side of their actions.” He added that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear capability was essential for global security.
Liberal MP Andrew Hastie, a former SAS officer, dismissed concerns about the international rules-based order, calling it a “fantasyland.” He argued that the world is governed by power and that US President Donald Trump acts as an “apex opportunist.” Hastie warned that war is “a very, very risky business” and expressed caution about regime change, having been involved in past conflicts.
Australia maintains a reduced force at Al Minhad since the end of operations in Afghanistan, with about 50 core ADF staff and 70-80 Australians at any time. Contingency planning is under way in Canberra to assist the 115,000 Australians in the region, including those affected by airline disruptions. Foreign Minister Penny Wong spoke with her UAE counterpart, who confirmed efforts to safely resume flights and provide accommodation for affected travellers.
