Australia Sends Surveillance Aircraft and Missiles to Gulf Amid Iran War

Australia will deploy military assets to the Gulf region as tensions escalate following the United States–Israeli war with Iran, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Tuesday.

Speaking at a news conference, Albanese said the government would send a Royal Australian Air Force E7A Wedgetail long-range surveillance aircraft along with personnel to help monitor and secure the region’s airspace.

“The Iranian conflict in the Middle East began just over a week ago, and Iran’s reprisal attacks continue to escalate, already at a scale and depth we haven’t seen before. Twelve countries across the region, from Cyprus through to the Gulf, are continuing to be targeted,” Albanese said.

The deployment is expected to last four weeks and will focus on airspace monitoring and coordination, with Albanese describing the mission as part of the region’s “collective self-defence”.

In addition to the aircraft, Australia will send advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles to the United Arab Emirates. Albanese said the decision followed a phone call with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Canberra framed the move primarily as a defensive measure tied to the safety of Australians in the region. According to the prime minister, roughly 115,000 Australian citizens live across the Middle East, including about 24,000 in the UAE.

“Helping Australians means also helping the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf nations defend themselves against what are unprovoked attacks,” Albanese told reporters.

He emphasized that the operation does not involve offensive action.

“My government has been clear: We are not taking offensive action against Iran, and we are clear we are not deploying Australian troops on the ground in Iran,” he said.

The government said the deployment would involve about 85 Australian personnel.

Albanese also noted that evacuation efforts are ongoing as the regional conflict expands. Approximately 2,600 Australians have already left the Middle East since last week, though he acknowledged that “significant challenges” remain for those still trying to depart.

The announcement quickly triggered criticism from Australia’s opposition Greens party, which warned the country could become entangled in another prolonged US-aligned conflict.

Australia previously joined US-led military campaigns in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003. More than 50 Australian service members died in those operations, according to the Australian War Memorial.

Greens Senator Larissa Waters said the latest deployment risks repeating that history.

“Australians do not want to get dragged into Trump and Netanyahu’s illegal war on Iran. Labor shouldn’t be sending troops to help a military that’s killed 150 schoolchildren in a primary school bombing. That will only escalate an illegal conflict that’s already spiralling out of control, and leave Australia trapped in yet another forever war,” Waters said in a statement.

She also argued that Australia’s role could gradually expand.

“Every day Trump and Netanyahu’s demands of Australia keep growing. It was refuelling US spy planes yesterday, a recon jet and missiles today, and could be ever more troops tomorrow. Labor has no red lines when it comes to appeasing Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu,” she said.

Separately on Tuesday, Albanese confirmed that Australia had granted asylum to five members of Iran’s women’s national football team who were visiting the country for the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup 2026 in Queensland.

The players have received humanitarian visas and have been moved to a secure location with assistance from the Australian Federal Police.

“Australians have been moved by the plight of these brave women. They’re safe here, and they should feel at home here,” Albanese said.