Australia to Send Additional Forces to Middle East

By Staff, Agencies 

Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles announced that his country will send “a significant contingent” of troops and additional aircraft to the Middle East to support its citizens there in the event of a worsened security situation.

Marles, who is also Australia’s deputy prime minister, did not specify the number of troops being deployed nor their exact location, citing “operational and security reasons.”

In a news release, the Australian government said the additional troops and two more military transport planes would join the transport aircraft and “the ADF contingent already in the region,” referring to the Australian Defense Force.

“It’s a volatile situation … We hope that this is confined to ‘Israel’ and Gaza,” Marles said, adding: “We want to make sure that we’re prepared if matters do get worse.”

During the interview, Marles also warned Australians who are considering leaving the Middle East to do so soon, using the “commercial options that are available.”

“As a government, we’ll do what we can, but if you want to leave, make sure you take your opportunities now,” he said.

Australia has fought alongside the United States in every major conflict since World War I.