Australia is considering providing military assistance to Gulf nations targeted by Iranian strikes but will not deploy ground troops or participate in offensive action against Iran, Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed on Sunday.
Speaking on ABC's Insiders program, Wong stated that the government has received requests for help in defending against Iranian drone and missile attacks. 'Many countries which are non-participants have been attacked by Iran through this,' she said. 'You would anticipate as a consequence that we have been asked for assistance and we will work through that carefully.'
Wong reiterated that Australia's involvement would be strictly defensive, ruling out any offensive operations. 'We are not participating in offensive action against Iran,' she said. She also stressed that Australian Defence Force personnel would not be deployed into a ground war, adding, 'This is not Iraq, and we are not the Howard government.'
The government confirmed that nine flights carrying Australians from the Middle East have arrived since US and Israeli strikes on Iran a week ago, with three more flights scheduled for Sunday. Additionally, dozens of Australians have been bussed from Qatar to Saudi Arabia to leave the region.
Wong defended the government's stance after it emerged that three Australian personnel were aboard a US submarine that torpedoed an Iranian warship near Sri Lanka. She said such deployments are 'not a new thing' and that personnel remain subject to Australian law and directives.
Operation Beech, launched on 5 March, is providing consular assistance to Australians stranded in the Middle East, with Royal Australian Air Force aircraft deployed as a precaution. The government continues to advise Australians to use commercial flights to return home.
