Australia sends more aircraft and military personnel to support citizens in Middle East

Australia said on Wednesday that it has sent two more military aircraft and a “significant number” of military personnel to the Middle East to support its citizens there in case the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip escalates.

Following the surprise attack by Hamas fighters on 7 October, during which 1,400 Israelis were killed, Israel has been bombing civilians in Gaza, killing at least 5,791 people, including 2,360 children.

According to Defence Minister Richard Marles, Australia has sent a Boeing C-17 transport and a mid-air refuelling aircraft that has the capacity to transport passengers, bringing the total number to three planes in the region. He did not reveal how many soldiers have been sent or the location where the aircraft are being stationed for security reasons, but he did say that they are not stationed in Israel.

“It is a significant number of personnel, though, and they’re there to support the aircraft and to support what that aircraft might ultimately have to do,” Marles told Australia’s Channel 9.

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