Federal government struggling to assist some of the 115,000 Australians in the region, including as many as 24,000 in the United Arab Emirates Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Australia is sending crisis consular support teams to the Middle East to help the thousands of travellers and expats stranded in the region, as Penny Wong conceded the war sparked by US and Israeli bombings of Iran was “spreading and intensifying”. But when asked by reporters on Wednesday about the legality of the strikes on Iran – which have drawn support from the federal government – the foreign affairs minister said it was “a matter for Israel and the US”. Continue reading...