A high-tech spy plane will form a key part of Australia's first military deployment in the Middle East since allies attacked Iran, but leaders have pledged it won't take part in offensive efforts.
Gulf nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, have been bombarded with Iranian missiles and drones since the US and Israel began strikes against the Islamic regime.
The Australian government on Tuesday announced plans to send an E-7A Wedgetail aircraft and advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles to the region, saying they would help defend the 115,000 Australians in the Middle East.
"We're not taking offensive action against Iran and we've been clear that we are not deploying Australian troops on the ground in Iran," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
About 85 military personnel would be on board the Wedgetail, which was to be deployed for an initial period of four weeks, Defence Minister Richard Marles said.
ANU National Security College senior policy advisor David Andrews described the aircraft as one of the world's most advanced spy planes, helping with surveillance, communications and early warning against attacks.
"It's protecting those Australians in the region by making sure ground-based interceptors or air-based assets can more quickly or effectively intersect missiles striking them," he said, noting it had previously been deployed to help Ukrainian war efforts.
Mr Andrews said Australia's response reflected the size of the nation's military and its resources.
"We haven't been specifically targeted in the same way as the British submarines that have been attacked in the Gulf, which has shaped their response," he said.
The Wedgetail would leave Australia on Tuesday and was expected to be operational by the end of the week, while the missiles would be sent to the United Arab Emirates to defend against "unprovoked attacks", Mr Albanese said.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor welcomed the announcement and said it would support allies against the Iranian regime.
"We must stand together against those who do not accept our values and are against our way of life and that is certainly true of this Iranian regime," he said.
The Greens accused the government of involving Australia in the US-Israeli-led war by deploying personnel to the region.
"Decent Australians will be horrified that their government is now engaging us in an illegal war that they want nothing to do with when they can see the pain that it's wreaking on civilians," Greens leader Larissa Waters said.
Pressed on Australia's long-term plan for its involvement in the Middle East, Mr Albanese insisted the government's contribution was purely defensive.
More than 2600 Australians had returned home from the region on commercial flights, the prime minister said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the overwhelming majority of Australian citizens who were travelling through the Middle East and became stuck when the war broke out had returned home.
