Australia has confirmed that an Iranian strike landed close to the Al Minhad airbase in the United Arab Emirates, where more than 100 Australian Defence Force personnel are stationed, intensifying concerns about the widening reach of the Iran conflict across the region.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the strike ignited a fire that damaged parts of an accommodation block and a medical facility within the base perimeter. Emergency crews on site brought the blaze under control, and initial structural assessments are under way to determine the extent of the damage.

No Australian personnel were injured, and operations at the base have continued under heightened security protocols. Defence officials are reviewing force protection measures, including dispersal of accommodation, hardened shelters and revised movement patterns on and around the base.

According to preliminary reports, an Iranian projectile struck a nearby road outside the main operational area. Investigators are still working to establish whether the weapon was a missile or an armed drone, analysing debris and radar data in coordination with Emirati and allied forces.

Albanese said it remains unclear whether Al Minhad itself was the intended target or whether the strike was part of a broader barrage in the Gulf region. He stressed that Australia is not at war with Iran and that its presence in the UAE is focused on logistics, surveillance and support roles alongside partners.

The prime minister condemned what he described as Iran’s pattern of indiscriminate attacks across the Middle East, warning that such actions increase the risk of miscalculation and unintended escalation. Canberra has been in direct contact with Tehran’s representatives and regional allies, seeking assurances about the safety of coalition facilities.

This is the second time in recent weeks that Al Minhad has been affected by Iranian action, following an earlier drone strike linked to the initial phase of the conflict. That earlier incident prompted a review of air defences and early-warning systems around the base; the latest strike is expected to accelerate calls for additional protective assets.

Australian officials say contingency plans are in place should the security situation deteriorate further, including the possible relocation or temporary drawdown of personnel. For now, the government insists its mission continues, but under the shadow of a conflict that is edging ever closer to its own deployed forces.