Middle East Region Archives - CONTACT magazine

Royal Australian Air Force officer Flight Lieutenant James Wilcox deployed on Operation Accordion at Al Minhad Air Base, 2025. Story and photo by Corporal Luke Bellman.

The movers and shakers of the ADF

13/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 590 Views 0 Comments logistics, Middle East Region, Operation Accordion

They don’t wear capes or fly jets but Australia’s logistics planners drive every move in the Middle East, where nothing

Leading Seaman Phillip Lofthouse is deployed on Operation Accordion at Camp Baird, United Arab Emirates. Story and photo by Corporal Luke Bellman.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Dawn service ashore a first for sailor

24/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 785 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Middle East Region

Deployed on Anzac Day in the Middle East region, Leading Seaman Phillip Lofthouse will honour his grandfather’s resilience as a

Royal Australian Air Force officer Flight Lieutenant Zac Pattison at his computer while deployed on Operation Accordion at Headquarters Middle East in 2025. Story and photo by Corporal Luke Bellman.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Thoughts of home while serving overseas

24/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 581 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Middle East Region, Operation Accordion

This Anzac Day, project engineer Flight Lieutenant Zac Pattison will reflect on those who served before him and the role

Retired Australian Army combat assault dogs Aslan, left, and Manic, of the 2nd Commando Regiment, receive the inaugural Australian Animal Distinguished Service Award at the Australian War Memorial. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF ADF People Veterans

Commando canines honoured for service

28/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1635 Views 0 Comments 2nd Commando Regiment, Australian Animal Distinguished Service Award, aww, Dogs of Valour, Middle East Region, Military Working Dogs, Purple Popply Day, Service Dogs

A retired combat assault dog named Manic, who served with the 2nd Commando Regiment in Iraq, received a new award

A small group of ADF personnel, including Commander of the Australian Contingent Colonel Mark Coyle, centre, close off Australia’s commitment to Operation Okra at Aussie House inside US military base Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Story by Lieutenant Commander Max Logan.

Australian Army Middle East News

Flag comes down, soldiers come home

28/02/202501/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1375 Views 0 Comments Middle East Region, Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Okra, Task Group Taji

The Australian flag descended at Combined Joint Task Force – Middle East in Kuwait for the final time in December,

Phil Burton, centre, performs at Camp Baird Headquarters Middle East for deployed ADF personnel on Australia Day during the Forces Entertainment Tour. Story and photos by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel.

Australian Army Middle East News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Forces Entertainment at Camp Baird

20/02/202523/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1256 Views 0 Comments Camp Baird, Middle East Region

As the sun set on the dunes behind Camp Baird at Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates,

Commander Air Task Group Air Commodore Philip Gordon in front of an F/A-18A Hornet on the flight line of Australia's main air operating base in the Middle East region. This image has been digitally modified. Story by Warrant Officer Class Two Max Bree. Photos by Corporal Nicci Freeman.

ADF People History Middle East Royal Australian Air Force

Reflecting on Op Okra Air Task Group

18/02/202523/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1489 Views 0 Comments Daesh, F/A-18A/B Hornets, F/A-18F Super Hornet, Middle East Region

Hornet pilots strapped into their aircraft in temperatures often exceeding 50 degrees before taking off for eight-and-a-half-hour sorties. CAPTION: Commander Air

Members of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces aboard a RAAF C-17 Globemaster for the final leg of their journey home from the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq. Story and photos Corporal Michael Rogers.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Giving our Pacific neighbours a lift home

20/09/202421/09/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1473 Views 0 Comments C-17A Globemaster III, Middle East Region, Republic of Fiji Military Forces, UN Peacekeeping

As a C-17 Globemaster began its final approach into Fiji, the harmonious singing that rose above the jet-engines’ roar signalled

Air Force airbase engineer Flight Lieutenant Eamonn Matthews is deployed on Operation Accordion to Headquarters Middle East. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People Royal Australian Air Force

Airfield engineer hits the ground running

17/05/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1355 Views 0 Comments Middle East Region, Operation Accordion

The world was stunned by images of jumbo jets sloshing down a flooded runway at Dubai airport after freak storms

RAAF 36 Squadron personnel walk from a C-17 Globemaster towards Hurley’s Hangar after arriving at Australia’s main operating base in the Middle East region. Story and photo by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Aussies deploy on Operation Hydranth

17/05/202418/05/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1650 Views 0 Comments C-17A Globemaster III, Middle East Region, No. 36 Squadron, Operation Accordion, Operation Beech, Operation Hydranth, Operation Kudu

As Houthi rebels sank and raided vessels in the Red Sea, the Australian Government announced ADF personnel would deploy under

From left, Rear Admiral (retd) Michael Rothwell presents Warrant Officer Matthew Hurley with his Federation Star marking 40 years of service in the Royal Australian Navy during a ceremony at Fleet Headquarters in Sydney. Story by Lieutenant Commander Harley Slatter. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

ADF People

Navy clearance diver awarded Federation Star

11/07/202311/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1648 Views 0 Comments Federation Star, HMAS Sydney, Joint Task Force 633, Middle East Region

On a crisp Sydney winter morning in early July, a large group assembled at Fleet Headquarters to celebrate Warrant Officer

Leading Seaman Olivia Saunders stands in front of the US base's Christmas tree, Bahrain. Story and photo by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People

Sailor on deployment of a lifetime

23/12/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2056 Views 0 Comments Bahrain, Middle East Region, Operation Manitou

Leading Seaman Olivia Saunders said she wouldn’t mind missing mum’s cooking this Christmas, as the young sailor was living “the

Governor-General General (retd) David Hurley speaks with deployed Australian personnel in the newly named Hurley’s Hangar at Camp Baird in the Middle East. Story and photo by Flight Lieutenant Madeline Edwards.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Camp Baird hangar named in honour of Governor-General

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2382 Views 1 Comment Camp Baird, Governor-General, Middle East Region

Governor-General General (retd) David Hurley recently took time out from his official schedule during his visit to the Middle East