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Canberra – The Australian government has ordered the dependents of its diplomats stationed in Israel and Lebanon to leave the countries, citing a rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Middle East. The directive, issued Wednesday, extends to offering voluntary departures for family members of Australian officials posted to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan.

The decision follows a warning from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) urging Australians to consider leaving Israel and Lebanon while commercial flights remain available. DFAT reiterated its advice against all travel to Iran, and urged any citizens currently in the country to depart immediately.

The escalating tensions are largely attributed to heightened fears of a potential military conflict between the United States and Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump, in his State of the Union address on Tuesday, outlined his administration’s position on Iran, stating he would not allow “the world’s No. 1 sponsor of terror” to acquire a nuclear weapon. This rhetoric has contributed to a significant increase in regional anxieties.

According to a statement released by DFAT, the security situation in the Middle East is “unpredictable,” with “regional tensions remain[ing] high and there continu[ing] to be a risk of military conflict.” The department warned that any conflict could lead to airspace closures, flight cancellations, and widespread travel disruptions.

While the Australian embassy in Iran has been closed since August 2025, the government’s concern extends to the broader region. The Times of Israel reported that the Australian government did not specifically mention Iran in its initial announcement, but the context of Trump’s address and ongoing indirect negotiations between the U.S. And Iran clearly underpin the decision.

The Australian government has not specified a timeframe for the departure of dependents, but has emphasized the urgency of the situation. The voluntary departures offered to personnel in the UAE, Qatar, and Jordan suggest a wider assessment of risk across the Gulf region.

Indirect talks between Iran and the United States resumed earlier this month, coinciding with a build-up of U.S. Military capabilities in the Middle East. The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier was observed docking at the Greek island of Crete this week, signaling a heightened U.S. Military presence. Another round of indirect talks is scheduled to take place in Geneva on Thursday.

DFAT continues to advise Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in the Middle East and to stay informed about the evolving security landscape. The department’s Smartraveller website provides updated travel advisories and contact information for Australian citizens in the region.

Heathrow Airport’s CEO, Thomas Woldbye, has warned that leisurely progress on the airport’s proposed third runway is a “national concern,” as the UK hub faces increasing competition from other European airports. The warning came as Heathrow reported a more than one-third drop in pre-tax profits to £575 million for 2025, down from £917 million the previous year.

Woldbye stated that major decisions regarding the funding model and legal framework for the expansion must be finalized this year to meet Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s timeline for construction to begin by 2029. The project, estimated to cost £49 billion including terminal renovations, aims to add approximately 276,000 flights annually, but Woldbye cautioned that the scale of the undertaking is often underestimated. “I think sometimes people underestimate what we’re doing here. We would like to be transparent,” he said.

The airport’s expansion plans have been under review since Labour came to power, with Woldbye expressing a desire for faster progress on key decision points. He emphasized the need for “safeguards” given the £33 billion investment Heathrow is prepared to craft. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is expected to establish a framework to reassure investors, as Heathrow seeks to ensure the project is fully privately financed.

Passenger numbers at Heathrow reached a record 84.5 million in 2025, but the airport anticipates only modest growth – around 0.6% – in 2026, reaching 85 million passengers. Woldbye attributed this limited growth to capacity constraints, stating that the situation “should be a concern for the country, limiting our growth.” He also noted that Heathrow is already operating at its upper capacity limit.

The concerns over Heathrow’s expansion come as Istanbul Airport is projected to overtake it as Europe’s busiest airport, potentially as early as this year or next, according to Woldbye. He told Reuters on Wednesday, “I would definitely expect maybe that to happen this year, maybe next year.”

Heathrow paid £550 million in dividends to its shareholders, primarily overseas investors including Ardian, Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, and Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. Woldbye defended the dividend payments, citing the airport’s strong performance in 2025 and cash generation.

However, the airport’s growing debt, nearing £19 billion, has drawn criticism from anti-expansion campaigners. Paul McGuinness, chair of the No 3rd Runway Coalition, warned that a government supporting the project could be forced to bail it out, potentially leaving taxpayers to fund an “unfinished hole in the ground.” Heathrow maintains that its debt is not an impediment to the fresh runway.

A review of the Airports National Policy Statement, which provides the legislative basis for the third runway, is currently underway. Woldbye stressed the importance of timely decisions on this front to meet the 2029 construction start date. The airport stated it is not seeking “wholesale change” to the existing regulatory regime governing landing charges, which are set by the CAA on a five-year basis.