Australia Directs Families of Diplomats to Leave Israel and Lebanon

The Australian government has issued a directive for all dependents of officials posted in Israel and Lebanon to depart in response the “deteriorating security situation.”

“The security situation in the Middle East is unpredictable,” said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) government-run Smartraveller social media page.

“Regional tensions remain high and there continues to be a risk of military conflict.

“Conflicts in the Middle East could result in airspace closures, flight cancellations and other travel disruptions.”

A second warning also issued on Feb. 25 offered voluntary departures to dependents of officials in Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The government has termed its actions a “precautionary measure.”

In a statement released earlier this month, DFAT warned that a conflict in the Middle East could impact safety “elsewhere” in the region.

It warned some of the targets could be areas popular with foreign tourists, embassies and other foreign interests.

Any closure of airspace hubs in the Middle East could also affect global flight paths, DFAT noted.

Australians have also been urged to check with airlines and travel agents about potential flight delays, cancellations, and other relevant issues.

“Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East,” the statement said.

“If you travel to or through the Middle East, you may be unable to leave if conflict escalates.

“Flights can change or stop at short notice. Roads and borders can close.”

The Epoch Times has contacted DFAT for comment.

Trump Warns of Iran’s Nuclear Program

The warnings come as U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted the risk of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon during his official State of the Union address on Feb. 25 (AEST).

Tensions have flared in the country as its own people take to the streets en masse to demand freedom from the strict Islamic Republic.

“For decades, it had been the policy of the United States never to allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.

“Since they seized control of that proud nation 47 years ago, the regime and its murderous proxies have spread nothing but terrorism and death and hate.”

Trump referred to the Iran’s regime as “some terrible people,” noting that an estimated 32,000 Iranian civilians were killed during recent pro-democracy uprisings across the nation.

“They’ve already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and they’re working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America,” Trump said.

The president said the Iranian regime had been warned by the U.S. not to rebuild its nuclear capabilities, yet was “starting it all over.”

“My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy,” Trump said.

“But one thing is certain, I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon. [I] can’t let that happen.”

The Iranian government, led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, says its nuclear ambitions are for peaceful purposes such as agriculture and healthcare, and has accused the U.S. of interfering.

“The U.S. President has said that for 47 years, the United States hasn’t been able to eliminate the Islamic Republic. That is a good confession. I say, ‘You, too, will not be able to do this,'” he wrote on X.

In a post earlier this month, Khamenei said any nation attacking Iran would “face a decisive blow.”