CANBERRA: Australia has temporarily closed its embassies in Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv, along with its consulate in Dubai, as concerns rise over escalating tensions linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
According to Reuters, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced on Wednesday that the closures were prompted by security risks after several cities hosting Australian diplomatic missions experienced missile and drone attacks.
Speaking in parliament, Wong said at least nine cities where Australian embassies and consulates operate have been targeted in recent attacks.āIranās reprisal attacks continue at scale and at a depth that we have not seen before,ā she said, warning that the conflict is likely to intensify and continue in the near future.
Australiaās diplomatic missions in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Tel Aviv have all been physically closed over the past week due to security concerns.The government has also directed the families of Australian diplomatic staff in the United Arab Emirates and Israel to leave the region.
Wong said the ādangerous and destabilizing attacksā by Iran pose risks to civilians, including Australian nationals, and that Canberra is continuing efforts to assist citizens affected by the crisis.
More than 3,200 Australians have already returned home from the Middle East on 23 commercial flights. Around 115,000 Australian citizens were believed to be in the region when the conflict began.
