This week, countries have rushed to evacuate their citizens from the Middle East in the wake of U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran, which resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and escalated regional conflict. Australian Prime Minister A. Albanese informed the parliament that the government has deployed six crisis management teams to the region as part of its contingency plans. Amid rising tensions, he expressed gratitude to Australians who are putting themselves in dangerous situations to assist their fellow citizens.

Albanese did not provide further details on the nature of the military resources but local media outlet SBS News reported they include aircraft. Australia has revealed that there are approximately 115,000 of its citizens in the region, necessitating immediate action to ensure their safety and security amidst growing fears of conflict. The deployment aims to bolster evacuation efforts while providing support to Australian nationals caught in the crisis.

Additionally, on Thursday, New Zealand also dispatched two military aircraft to the Middle East, preparing for the potential evacuation of its own citizens from the area. This collective response from Australia and New Zealand underscores a regional alliance in addressing the safety of their citizens as tensions in the Middle East continue to intensify, highlighting the ongoing geopolitical challenges faced by nations in tumultuous regions.