Australians told to leave amid conflict fears
The families of Australian diplomats based in two Middle Eastern countries have been urged to leave as the security situation in the region worsens.
Families of Australian diplomats in Israel and Lebanon have been advised to leave, as the government cites unpredictable security tensions in the Middle East.
The Australian government has also offered voluntary departures to its diplomatsâ dependents in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Qatar, it said on the Smart Traveller website on Wednesday.
âThis is a precautionary measure, in view of regional tensions,â the advice states.
âAustraliaâs embassies in Tel Aviv and Beirut remain open.
âThe situation in the Middle East is unpredictable.â
Embassies will also remain open in Jordanâs Amman, Qatarâs Doha and UAEâs Abu Dhabi, along with the consulate in Dubai.
The advice comes after US President Donald Trump laid out plans for a possible attack on Iran in his State of the Union speech to Congress.
Trump said he would not allow the worldâs biggest sponsor of terrorism to have a nuclear weapon.
Iran and the US resumed negotiations earlier in February âas Washington âbuilds up military capability in the Middle East.
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Iran âhas threatened to strike US bases in the region if it is attacked, but Tehranâs top diplomat âsaid âon Tuesday that âa deal with the US was âwithin âreachâ if diplomacy was prioritised.
The Australian government continues to advise citizens in Israel and Lebanon to consider leaving while commercial options are still available, the foreign ministry said.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said families âabsolutely should be heeding that adviceâ.
âItâs the best advice we have, and thereâs no question that the situation there appears to be hotting up,â he told Sky News.
-with AAP
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