115,000 Australians Stranded in Middle East: Awaiting Rescue

Kathmandu, March 2: Approximately 115,000 Australian citizens are currently stranded in the Middle East following the cancellation of flights after the joint US-Israel military attack on Iran, Australia’s Foreign Minister has stated.

In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Television, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that the federal government is awaiting information about the possibility of resuming commercial flights through the Middle East before conducting special rescue flights for stranded citizens. “Given the number of people in the region, people will get home most quickly if we can facilitate people getting on commercial flights at the moment,” she said.

In a statement issued on Monday, Wong said the government advises Australians not to travel to Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Additionally, she stated that Australian citizens should reconsider the need to travel to Jordan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.

Australian citizens already in the Middle East have been advised by the government to closely monitor events and local media, confirm plans directly with airlines or travel agents, review their travel insurance, and follow the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for the latest updates.

Wong said that DFAT has activated its Crisis Center to provide consular assistance to Australians in the Middle East.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles stated that the government has taken steps to ensure the safety of approximately 100 defense force personnel currently based in the region.