Iran strikes UAE base housing British, US and Australian troops

Iran struck a military base housing British, US and Australian troops in the United Arab Emirates during overnight strikes across the Gulf.

A missile hit the Al Minhad Air Base where the UK maintains a permanent military facility, at 9.15am AEDT on Wednesday morning.

Anthony Albanese, the Australian prime minister, said the projectile caused ‘minor damage’ to an accommodation ​block and a medical ‌facility ⁠due to a small blaze that was created as ​a result ​of ⁠the missile hitting on ​a road leading ​up ⁠to the base.

More than 100 Australian military personnel are deployed at Al Minhad.

Albanese confirmed that that all Australian staff were ‘absolutely safe’ following the attack at the base, which is operated by the UAE and functions as Australia’s military headquarters for the Middle East. 

He could not confirm if Tehran directly targeted the Al Minhad base, however, while maintaining Australia was not at war. 

‘The Iranian regime is engaging in random attacks right across the region. We know that is the case,’ the prime minister said. 

In 2014, the UK launched a permanent headquarters at the site to support British operations in the region. 

The Ministry of Defence has yet to comment on the attack. 

RAAF aircraft at Al Minhad airbase in 2011

While the base has served as the operational hub for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in the region since 2003, the Australian presence was scaled down following the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Defence has said it may consider changes at Al Minhad to reflect the ongoing safety concerns.

‘Defence’s focus is on ensuring the safety and security of our people and we will continue to revise force protection measures as the situation in the Middle East evolves,’ it said in a statement on the attack.

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