Help for the Gulf expands

Australia will deploy an E-7A Wedgetail aircraft to the Persian Gulf as Iran’s retaliatory attacks continue to escalate across the region, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Tuesday.

The deployment comes as 12 countries across the Middle East continue to be targeted by Iranian missiles and drones, with the United Arab Emirates alone forced to shoot down over 1500 projectiles.

“This growing wave of dangerous and destabilising attacks from Iran puts civilian lives at risk, including Australian lives,” Albanese said.

The Wedgetail will provide long-range reconnaissance capability to help secure the airspace above the Gulf, with approximately 85 Australian Defence Force personnel deployed for an initial four weeks.

The aircraft left Australia on Tuesday and is expected to be operational by the end of the week. Australia will also provide advanced medium range air-to-air missiles to the UAE in response to a request.