US–Iran war live updates: Australia deploys E-7A Wedgetail, missiles to United Arab Emirates over Iran threat

President Donald Trump says the US has almost wiped out every Iranian force, including a new claim that 51 Iranian Navy ships have now been destroyed.

“We continue to target Iran’s drone and missile capabilities. Their drones are way down,” Mr Trump said.

“Their drone manufacturing’s been hit starting today. We know all of the places they manufacture their drone and they are being hit one after another.

“Their missile capabilities are down to about 10 per cent, maybe less. We’re also hitting where they make missiles and where they deliver missiles to date.

“We’ve struck over 5000 targets to date. Weve left some of the most important targets for later in case we need to do it. If we hit them, it’s going to take many years for them to be rebuilt.”

Mr Trump said some of the things that had not been hit yet included energy production.

The US President confirmed B2 bombers recently dropped “dozens of 2000-pound bombs” all over Iran, some targeting underground sites.

US President Donald Trump is speaking at an event before he gives an official update on Operation Epic Fury.

Speaking to a room of Republican Members, Mr Trump said “the world is witnessing the worth” of a record $US1 trillion investment in the US military.

“The world respects us right now more than they have ever respected us before,” Mr Trump said.

“Together with our Israeli partners, we are crushing the enemy in an overwhelming display of technical skill and military force.

“Iran’s drone and missile capabilities is being utterly demolished. The Navy is gone. It is all lying at the bottom of the ocean, 46 ships.

Mr Trump said that the US had already “won” in many ways, but that it has not yet “won enough”.

“We go forward more determined than ever to achieve ultimate victory that will end this long-running danger once and for all.”

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to give an update on the war with Iran at 8.30 AEDT.

Stay with us as we bring you the key updates from his address.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has told any Australians in the Middle East to leave “now”, if they plan to, warning that things will likely get worse quickly.

“There are many more Australians in the Middle East,” Senator Wong said.

“We encourage those who do wish to leave, do so now, do so while commercial flights are still available.

“I emphasise that DFAT has directed the departure of all dependents of officials posted to the United Arab Emirates.

“This is because the security situation is deteriorating, and it is likely to get worse before it gets better.”

Defence Minister Richard Marles said the deployment of an E-7A Wedgetail, and the sharing of air-to-air missiles was for “the defence of the countries of the Gulf”.

“It is for the defence of the countries of the Gulf, in particular the UAE, where there are a significant number of Australians that reside,” Mr Marles said.

“We are really pleased to be able to make this contribution.

“Speaking with my counterpart in the UAE they are also enormously grateful for the contribution we are making.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the priority of his government is to keep Australians safe and assist nations in defensive actions against “unprovoked attacks”.

“My government has been clear that we are not taking offensive action against Iran, and we’ve been clear that we are not deploying Australian troops on the ground in Iran,” Mr Albanese said from Canberra.

“Our position remains that we do not want to see the conflict escalate.

“We are taking defensive action to support our partners’ efforts to keep Australians safe.”

Mr Albanese said the deployment of the E-7A Wedgetail would initially be for four weeks.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will deploy an advanced air defence aircraft and missiles to the UAE as Iran’s wave of attacks continues to destabilise the Middle East.

“The United Arab Emirates alone has been forced to shoot down over 1500 rockets and drones,” Mr Albanese said from Canberra.

“This growing wave of dangerous and destabilising attacks from Iran puts civilian lives at risk. Of course, including Australian lives, of which there are more than 20,000 people based in the UAE.

“Australia will deploy an E-7A Wedgetail to the Gulf to help protect and defend Australians and other civilians.”

Mr Albanese said the deployment will help protect and secure the airspace over the Gulf, with an initial period of four weeks.

The Prime Minister said medium-range air-to-air missiles to the UAE Government as well.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has shared an image of the moment he shared the news with five women from the Iranian football team that they could stay in Australia.

Tony Burke confirms that US President Donald Trump phoned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese very early this morning to discuss the case.

“Everybody’s been looking at this situation and saying, ‘Surely, is there something we can do?’... and I think lots of people would have, would have looked at that sense from President Trump of wanting to help these women, and would have seen feelings that that they shared,” he says.

The Home Affairs Minister also confirms he checked with ASIO boss Mike Burgess that the intelligence agency had no security concerns about the five women before he offered them Australian visas.

He also spoke with AFP Comissioner Krissy Barrett about security arrangements for the women.

Tony Burke says he’s spent two nights in Brisbane and that conversations started in earnest early on Monday morning with the footballers.

Australian Federal Police moved them to a safe location last night and the paperwork process began.

“These women have been weighing up an incredibly difficult decision,” he says.

“They want to make clear they are not political activists, they are athletes who want to be kept safe.”