Australia to Deploy 200 Special Forces Troops in Iraq ’Mission’

Local Editor

Australia will soon deploy 200 special forces troops in Iraq to "advise and assist Iraqi security forces" a month after the Australian forces were sent to the Middle East.

Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in a statement from Baghdad on Monday that she had secured the necessary legal guarantees to go ahead with the deployment of the elite troops.

"I have finalized an agreement for a legal framework to enable our special forces to be deployed here," she said as she was wrapping up a two-day visit.

Bishop said the special forces' mission would be to "advise and assist the Iraqi government in building up the capacity of the Iraqi security forces."

Meanwhile, the Australian special forces arrived a month ago [September] in the United Arab Emirates [UAE] to participate in the US-led coalition in Iraq.

At the same time, Australia also sent six F/A-18F Super Hornet jet fighters which are flying almost daily combat missions against in northern Iraq.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team