Australia expects Iran war to intensify, shuts some Middle East embassies

March 11, 2026 3:34 AM EDT

Smoke rises from a building following a reported strike, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran in this screen grab obtained from social media video released March 11, 2026. Social Media/via REUTERS

SYDNEY, March 11 (Reuters) - ‌Australia has ​closed ​its embassies in Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv as well as ‌its consulate in Dubai, the foreign minister ⁠said on Wednesday, amid fears the conflict in the ‌Middle East could ‌intensify.

* Foreign Minister Penny Wong said at least nine citieswhere Australian embassies and consulates ​are located haveexperienced missile and drone attacks. * "Iran's reprisal attacks continue at scale and ⁠at a depththat we have not seen before," she told parliament. * ​The conflict was "likely to intensify and continue in thenear term", she said. * "Our ​missions in Abu Dhabi, ‌Dubai and Tel Aviv have allhad to physically close in the last ⁠week." * Australia has also directed dependants of diplomaticofficials in the United Arab Emirates and Israel ⁠to leave. * "The dangerous and destabilising attacks by Iran putcivilian ​lives at risk, including Australian lives, and wecontinue to support Australians affected as limited commercialflights resume and ‌we expand consular efforts," Wong said. * More than 3,200 Australians have returned ‌from the MiddleEast on 23 commercial flights. ⁠About 115,000 citizens ‌were inthe region ​when the conflict began.

(Reporting by Christine Chen in Sydney; Editing by Sonali ‌Paul)



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