Australia Kept in the Dark Before Iran Strikes, Foreign Minister Says, as Flights to Middle East Cancelled

Australia Not Notified Before Iran Strikes, Wong Confirms

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has acknowledged that Australia was given no prior notice before Israeli and US forces conducted strikes on Iran, but stopped short of condemning the military action — a position that has sparked a backlash from within the Labor party.

"We weren't told in advance. You wouldn't expect us to be, but you would see there's obviously been a lot of discussion," Wong said in public remarks following the strikes.

Wong declined to clarify whether Australian intelligence facilities had played any role in supporting the operation, a question that has drawn significant attention given Australia's close intelligence-sharing arrangements with the United States through the Five Eyes alliance.

Labor Faction Pushes Back

Wong's apparent endorsement of the strikes drew immediate criticism from within her own party. A Labor group condemned what it called a "sycophantic capitulation to militarism," signalling a rare and public division within the governing party over foreign policy.

The rebuke reflects broader unease among some Labor members over Australia's alignment with US military actions in the Middle East, particularly as the region faces renewed instability following the strikes on Iran.

Flights Disrupted Between Australia and Middle East

The escalating tensions have had direct consequences for civilian travel. Flights between Australia and the Middle East have been cancelled in the wake of the strikes, disrupting passengers and raising logistical concerns for airlines operating routes through the region.

Airspace restrictions and heightened security assessments have prompted carriers to suspend or reroute services, with travellers advised to check with airlines for updates on affected routes.

Australia's Posture Under Scrutiny

The strikes on Iran mark a significant escalation in Middle East tensions, and Australia's response — or lack of prior involvement — has placed the government's foreign policy positioning under the microscope.

Wong's comments suggest Australia was informed through diplomatic channels after the fact, consistent with the posture of a close but secondary ally in a US-led operation. However, her refusal to address the question of intelligence facility usage leaves open questions about the depth of Australia's indirect participation.

The government has not indicated whether it will seek further clarification from Washington or Tel Aviv, nor has it called for any independent review of the strikes' legality under international law — points that critics within and outside the Labor party are likely to press in the coming days.

As the situation in the Middle East continues to evolve, Australian officials face mounting pressure to define the country's position more precisely — both on the strikes themselves and on the broader trajectory of the conflict.