Drone attacks: ADF reviews security after Saudia Arabian oil facilities targeted

Security measures for ADF personnel in the Middle East are being overhauled in the wake of the attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities by drones and cruise missiles.

Australia is reviewing the security of its men and women deployed to the Middle East after the drone swarm attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities last week.

It comes as world leaders gather in New York for the UN General Assembly this week to decide on a diplomatic solution to the crisis as Iran-backed Houthi rebels threaten to broaden their assaults on other Middle East nations where Australian troops operate including Dubai.

It has been confirmed senior Australian Defence Force figures have been reviewing security measures for the 900 ADF personnel serving in the Middle East region in the wake of the attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities by drones and cruise missiles suspected to have come from Iran.

Australian Defence Force figures have been reviewing security measures in the wake of the drone attacks.

It was determined the face of warfare was evolving as had been predicted for years and the attack meant “the future was here”.

The review concluded the “harnessing of military grade or commercially available technologies and applying them in unique ways had changed the threat profile in the region”, including for the maritime force in the Gulf.

Countering unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) was a key focus now for the ADF; there was to be no change to the level of commitment to the region.

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The urgency of reviewing the Saudi attack came as Houthi rebels battling a civil war in Yemen vowed to extend their drone and missile attacks to their other great enemy, the United Arab Emirates.

Coincidently the international airport in its capital Dubai underwent a 15-minute closure today due to suspected drone activity with an inbound flight from Australia diverted to other UAE airports.

Houthi rebels battling a civil war in Yemen have vowed to extend their drone and missile attacks. Picture: AFP

The Houthis late last week had warned an attack similar to the one it claimed responsibility for in Saudi Arabia could be carried out in the UAE.

“We have dozens of targets in the UAE that we have selected... in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and they may be hit at any moment.” He added: “The UAE should stop its participation in the aggression (in Yemen) if it wants to protect its glass skyscrapers.”

The Saudis will this week present evidence to the UN that it says proves Iran and not Houthis in Yemen was behind the oil attack, which affected 5 per cent of the world’s oil output.

Iran has denied any involvement and vowed to retaliate against even a limited military response.

Both Riyadh and Washington want a peaceful diplomatic resolution, but if evidence proved the strike came from Iran it would be considered “an act of war” that could lead to a military retaliation.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said he would present at the UN General Assembly a plan for “creating security” in the Gulf in cooperation with other regional nations.

Originally published as Drone attacks: ADF reviews security after Saudia Arabian oil facilities targeted