Australia has ordered dependants of diplomats in Israel and Lebanon to leave amid rising tensions between the US and Iran. The Australian government also offered voluntary departures for dependants in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan, citing a “deteriorating security situation in the region”.
Anxiety is mounting across the Middle East as embassies evacuate staff and airlines cancel flights. The US pulled non-essential officials and eligible family members from its embassy in Lebanon earlier this week. Brazil recommended its citizens leave Iran, following a similar alert for Lebanon in January.
In Lebanon, residents are bracing for potential conflict, delaying travel and stockpiling essential goods. The memory of the 13-month war between Lebanon and Israel that killed about 4,000 people remains vivid. Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group, is under scrutiny as Israel warned that all of Lebanon would suffer if Hezbollah attacked.
KLM suspended flights between Amsterdam and Tel Aviv from 1 March, citing operational feasibility. The Middle East has experienced intermittent conflict since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack, including a 12-day war between Iran and Israel and ongoing bombings involving Houthis and Israel.
Negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme continued in Geneva, with the Trump administration warning of drastic consequences if no concessions are made. Vice-President JD Vance stated, “The principle is very simple: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
