The Iranian strike hit an area at the Al Minhad Air Base of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has long-standing presence on March 18, said Australian defence Force in a statement.
“On the morning of 18 March 2026 (AEDT), an Iranian strike impacted an area at the Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, where the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has a long‑standing presence. No ADF personnel were injured in the incident, and all ADF personnel deployed to the Middle East are safe and accounted for,” said the ADF.
As per the official statement, the strike resulted in minor damage to an accommodation block and medical facility in the Australian section of the base.
“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 concluded.
The Al Minhad air base is owned by the UAE and is used by Australia for its military, logistics, surveillance and training hub in the Middle East.
It has been an operational hub for the ADF since 2003, but reportedly their presence was scaled down following the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
There were reportedly 100 Australian military personnel deployed at the base, along with British and United States personnel.
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