Kathmandu. Australia has deployed two military aircraft to the Middle East as part of a contingency plan to evacuate its citizens.

Several countries have been rushing to evacuate their citizens from the Middle East this week, following a US-Israeli invasion that killed Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and sparked a regional war.

Australia has deployed and facilitated air transport to the Middle East as part of its evacuation plan, officials said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed in Parliament on Thursday that military aircraft had been deployed to the Middle East.

He thanked Australians for taking this step in dangerous situations to help Australians.

Earlier on Wednesday, the first flight from Dubai to Sydney took place, with Australia saying there were 115,000 people in the region.

New Zealand also ordered two military aircraft to the Middle East on Thursday to help secure the evacuation of its citizens from the region.