REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Australia said on Wednesday it had deployed two more military aircraft and a "significant number" of defence personnel to the Middle East to help support its citizens there if the ongoing war between Israel and militant group Hamas escalates.
Australia sent a Boeing C-17 aircraft and an air refueler plane that has the capacity to carry passengers, taking the total to three, Defence Minister Richard Marles said.
He did not disclose the total number of personnel deployed and where the aircraft would be based due to security reasons but said they would not be based in Israel.
"It is a significant number of personnel, though, and they're there to support the aircraft and to support what that aircraft might ultimately have to do," Marles told Channel Nine.
Australia on Wednesday also unveiled a new A$20 million ($12.7 million) military package for Ukraine, taking its total aid to A$910 million since Russia invaded in February 2022.
Persons:
Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Richard Marles, Marles, Renju Jose, Stephen Coates
Organizations:
REUTERS, Rights, Hamas, Boeing, Defence, West Bank, Australia, Thomson
Locations:
Gaza, Australia, Israel, Iran, Rafah, Egypt, Lebanon, Lebanon's Iran, Ukraine, Russia, Sydney