New ‘Avoid Travel’ Alert for Australians as Middle East Conflict Escalates: Key Details

Updated Travel Advisory for Australians in the Middle East

SmartTraveller has issued a new warning urging Australians not to travel to several countries in the Middle East due to ongoing military conflicts and security threats. The advisory comes as tensions escalate following joint US-Israel actions against Iran, which have led to retaliatory strikes across the region.

The warning specifically targets the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where airspace may open or close at short notice, affecting flights at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports. The government has also advised Australians to avoid traveling to Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, the UAE, and Yemen. Additionally, travelers are urged to reconsider trips to Jordan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia while exercising caution in Azerbaijan.

Impact on Travelers and Diplomats

The situation has left many Australians stranded in the region. An attack near the main terminal of Dubai Airport last week trapped thousands inside the building and left passengers stranded on planes. The UAE reported that Iran launched over 1,400 missiles and drones at sites across the country, leading to significant disruptions.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced that Australian diplomats and their families have been instructed to leave the UAE due to the deteriorating security situation. However, ordinary Australians have also faced challenges, with some caught in the conflict zone.

Camille Thioulouse, an Australian mother living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was stranded in Abu Dhabi while returning from a holiday. She described the experience as harrowing, especially with two small children. “Fleeing a conflict zone with two small children was something I never imagined I would ever have to do,” she said.

Australia’s Role in Regional Security

Wong mentioned that Australia is considering requests for military assistance from regional allies but has ruled out any ground troop deployment. “If a decision is made, I’m sure that we will be transparent with the Australian people,” she said.

Iran has launched attacks against neighboring countries, including the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain, following US and Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Ted O’Brien expressed openness to supporting Gulf nations, stating, “The United States and Israel have been doing the heavy lifting for the free world here.”

Jennifer Parker, an expert associate at the Australian National University’s National Security College, suggested that Australian forces could assist in missile and drone detection and interception. She also proposed deploying fighter jets to defend Gulf countries, though this would require careful consideration of defensive roles.

Australia could also help ensure the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for one-fifth of global supplies. Iran’s blockage of the strait has caused fuel price spikes. If defense personnel are sent to the region, they would likely face similar risks as other allied forces, according to Parker. “Australia is considered as allied with the US anyway, and so therefore, because of that relationship, Iran would consider Australians as targets in the same way that they have in some of the Gulf countries,” she said.