Significant amount of Aussies trying to leave Israel and Iran as Middle East conflict escalates, Penny Wong warns
Over a thousand Australian citizens are looking to leave Iran and Israel as the government looks to assist where "safe to do so" amid rising escalations in the Middle East.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said about 1250 Australians from Israel and Iran were wanting to leave, with numbers "increasing quite rapidly" for those looking to fly home.
'We are making plans to assist Australians where it is safe to do so,' Senator Wong said on ABC's Afternoon Briefing on Tuesday.
'At the moment, air space continues to be closed and the reason for that is the risk to civilian aircraft of a (potential missile) strike.
'Obviously we will continue to prepare plans to assist Australians … we're looking at all options and assessing very carefully the security implications … of various options."
Senator Wong said about 650 Australians are currently trying to leave Iran and another 600 are looking at ways to get out of Israel.
The Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported more than 600 foreign nationals have crossed from Iran into neighbouring Azerbaijan, since Israel began their attack last Friday, a government official in Baku said.
"Since the start of the military escalation between Israel and Iran, more than 600 citizens of 17 countries have been evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan," the government source told AFP on Tuesday.
"Evacuees are transported from the border to Baku International Airport and flown to their home countries on international flights."
Israel and Iran continue to trade deadly missile barrages as both countries report a growing death toll.
Israel was rocked on Tuesday morning after 20 Iranian missiles hit Tel Aviv and the affluent coastal city of Herzliya.
The missiles directly impacted Tel Aviv and a 'sensitive site' in Herzliya, which could indicate something of military or strategic significance was targeted.
In Iran, Israel Defense Forces reportedly launched co-ordinated strikes killing a number of high-ranking Iranian officials, including the recently-appointed Chief of Staff of the country's armed forces Ali Shadmani.
Israel also bombed the Tehran offices of Iran's state broadcasting service IRIB.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has demanded for a "real end" to the nuclear problem with Iran.
He said during his departure from the Group of Seven nations summit in Canada, he "may" send US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and vice-president JD Vance to meet with Iran, as the conflict between the two forces continues to spiral out of control.
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