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Australia 'to send more troops to train Iraqi forces' Australia to send more troops to train Iraqi forces
(about 4 hours later)
Australia is poised to significantly increase its contingent of troops training local forces in Iraq, Australian media say. Australia is to significantly increase its contingent of troops training local forces in Iraq, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has announced.
They say 300 troops will join the 200 special forces soldiers already in the country training the Iraqi army. An additional 300 troops will be sent to the country in a joint mission with New Zealand, Mr Abbott said.
The new deployment will form part of a joint mission with New Zealand. They will join the 200 special forces already in the country tasked with training the Iraqi army.
Fighter jets from the Royal Australian Air Force joined the US-led coalition bombing Islamic State (IS) targets in Iraq in October. The Royal Australian Air Force joined the US-led coalition against Islamic State (IS) in Iraq in October.
The cabinet approved the plan on Monday, Australia's ABC News reported. Prime Minister Tony Abbott is expected to make a formal announcement later on Tuesday. 'Death cult'
Mr Abbott said that supporting the Iraqi army in its fight against IS - which he referred to by another name, Daesh - was vital to domestic as well as international security.
The training mission was intended to take two years, he said, with a review after 12 months. He declined to say whether it would be Australia's last troop commitment in the IS conflict.
The deployment brings the total number of Australian troops in the region to 900.
"We haven't taken this decision lightly", Mr Abbott said. "Ultimately it is Iraq that must defeat the death cult Daesh, but we do not want to leave the Iraqis on their own.
"We are naturally reluctant as a peace-loving people to reach out to far-away conflicts but as we know, this conflict has been reaching out to us for months now."
Mr Abbott said that about 100 Australians had joined IS in Syria and Iraq, and a further 150 were believed to support the group from home.
He said that the conflict with IS had been "reaching out to our country for months".
Defence Minister Kevin Andrews spoke after Mr Abbott, warning that "the world cannot ignore" the "brutality and depravity" of IS.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key pre-empted the announcement last week when he revealed that New Zealand was sending 143 troops to Iraq in a joint operation with Australia.New Zealand Prime Minister John Key pre-empted the announcement last week when he revealed that New Zealand was sending 143 troops to Iraq in a joint operation with Australia.
IS militants currently control large swathes of both Iraq and Syria, having launched a major offensive in the region in June.IS militants currently control large swathes of both Iraq and Syria, having launched a major offensive in the region in June.
The training by Australian and New Zealand troops is designed to bolster Iraqi forces' ability to push back against the IS advance.The training by Australian and New Zealand troops is designed to bolster Iraqi forces' ability to push back against the IS advance.
The troops will be based north of Baghdad, according to Australian media. The troops will be based in Taji, a rural district north of Baghdad.
On Monday, Australia made it a criminal offence for an Australian national to set foot in the Islamic State (IS) stronghold of Mosul without a legitimate reason such as a visit to family.On Monday, Australia made it a criminal offence for an Australian national to set foot in the Islamic State (IS) stronghold of Mosul without a legitimate reason such as a visit to family.
Any Australian who travels to the city could face 10 years in prison.Any Australian who travels to the city could face 10 years in prison.
Similar restrictions were put in place in December making it an offence for Australian citizens to travel to the Syrian province of al-Raqqa, another IS stronghold.Similar restrictions were put in place in December making it an offence for Australian citizens to travel to the Syrian province of al-Raqqa, another IS stronghold.
As well as the 200-strong special forces group, Australia also has 400 other troops in the region to support its commitment to the operation.
Mr Abbott has previously voiced concerns over the numbers of Australians working with or inspired by IS.
His government estimates that approximately 70 of its citizens are fighting with the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
Australia raised its terrorism threat level from medium to high in September, fearing attacks from Australian jihadists returning to the country.Australia raised its terrorism threat level from medium to high in September, fearing attacks from Australian jihadists returning to the country.