Australia Orders Officials to Leave Israel and UAE as War Escalates

All non-essential Australian officials have been told to leave as the war escalates and tensions spread throughout the Middle East.

A fireball rises from the site of an Israeli air strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon on March 9, 2026. Ibrahim Amro/AFP via Getty Images

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has ordered all non-essential officials to leave Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) amid safety concerns as the U.S.-Israel war with Iran enters its second week.

Diplomats’ dependents in the UAE, Jordan, and Qatar are also eligible for voluntary departures.