An Iranian strike has targeted the Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a key military hub hosting Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel, causing minor infrastructure damage but no reported casualties.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that the projectile struck near the base at around 9.15 am AEDT, triggering a small fire that led to limited damage to an accommodation block and a medical facility used by Australian personnel.

“I can confirm that no Australian personnel were injured, and everyone is absolutely safe at this point,” Albanese said, offering reassurance amid rising regional tensions. 

While it remains unclear whether the strike involved a missile or a drone, officials indicated that the projectile hit a road leading into the base rather than a direct facility target. The resulting fire, however, spread enough to impact nearby structures within the Australian section.

More than 100 Australian military personnel are currently stationed at Al Minhad, which also hosts British forces and a smaller contingent of United States military members.

The base, operated by the UAE, has long served as a critical logistics, surveillance, training and operational centre for Australia’s Middle East deployments.

The facility has been a cornerstone of Australia’s military presence in the region since 2003, although troop numbers were scaled back following the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. It continues to function as a key transit and coordination hub for ADF operations across the broader Middle East.

The Australian Department of Defence reiterated that all personnel are “safe and accounted for,” adding that force protection measures are under constant review as the security situation evolves.

“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,” the department said in a statement.

Defence Minister Richard Marles echoed the sentiment, stressing that the safety of deployed personnel remains the government’s top priority. “The safety and security of the men and women who bravely wear our nation’s uniform is always our priority,” he said.

The strike marks the second time Al Minhad has been targeted since the current wave of hostilities began. An earlier Iranian drone attack in the initial phase of the conflict did not result in any damage to Australian facilities.

Responding to the latest incident, Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson issued a strong warning, stating that the attack underscores the threat posed by Iran. “The attack on Australian facilities at Al Minhad is another reminder that the Islamic Republic regime in Iran is no friend of Australia,” he said.

Paterson also backed the deployment of advanced surveillance capabilities, including the Boeing E-7A Wedgetail aircraft, to support regional allies such as the UAE. Notably, the Wedgetail was not present at the base at the time of the strike.

Albanese described the broader situation as volatile, noting that Iran has been conducting what he termed “random attacks right across the region,” with the UAE experiencing heavy bombardment during the ongoing conflict.

The incident is likely to intensify scrutiny over Australia’s military footprint in the Middle East and the adequacy of protective measures for deployed personnel, as geopolitical tensions in the region continue to escalate.