Australia boosts 'contingency' military presence in Middle East

Australia is sending two additional Air Force aircraft to the Middle East as tensions escalate between Israel and Hamas, Report informs, citing Daily Mail.

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles announced that the extra planes and a small detachment of army personnel would be deployed on Wednesday.

The Defence Minister explained that the ADF personnel were being sent as a precautionary measure.

"We are putting that in place, really, as a contingency to support Australian populations in the Middle East," Mr Marles told Today.

"Bearing in mind that this is a very volatile situation and we just don't absolutely know which way it goes from here."

Mr Marles said a 'significant number' of personnel had been deployed.