Melbourne writer Alistair Kitchen was detained for 12 hours at Los Angeles International Airport, had his phone seized and was "interrogated" about his views on the conflict in the Middle East.

Australia has suggested Israel's attack on Iran was justified, citing international fears about the threat posed by the potential spread of nuclear weapons.

Anthony Albanese has joined calls for Israel and Iran to de-escalate their bombing campaigns, amid fears the Middle East conflict will escalate even more.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia is "alarmed" by the escalation in tensions between Israel and Iran.

Alistair Kitchen, an Australian writer and former student in the U.S., was deported from the United States after writing articles supporting student protests at Columbia University against Israel.

Donald Trump vetoed a plan by Israel to kill Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to reports from AP and Reuters. Israel’s ambassador to Australia has delivered a veiled barb to Foreign Minister Penny Wong she revealed she had phoned her Iranian counterpart urging restraint after Israel’s strikes on Iran.

Former Middle East negotiator Aaron David Miller says Israel has “escalation dominance” in its strikes against Iran. “The reality is that the Israelis have escalation dominance; they own the skies,” Mr Miller told Sky News Australia.

There’s a new Middle East war over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Our experts unpack why Israel is striking now – and what happens next. Find out more about The Front podcast here. You can read about this story and more on The Australian’s website or on The Australian’s app.