A Member Loyal To The Islamic State In Iraq And The Levant (ISIL) Waves An ISIL Flag In Raqqa.
A member loyal to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) waves an ISIL flag in Raqqa June 29, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer

Three members of the New Zealand Defence Force are making their way to the Middle East to check for a possible role for Kiwi troops to help train Iraqi forces against ISIS militants. According to reports, Prime Minister John Key has announced any type of training would be done "behind the wire" and no Special Air Service troops would be involved.

Mr Key said he would not allow New Zealand to fight the battles of Iraq and ruled out the option of troops given combat roles. He considered the possibility of sending the SAS to help protect the base where New Zealand forces would hold training sessions, NZ Herald reports.

Mr Key said the role of SAS would be similar to its role in Afghanistan which was only to "aid and assist." New Zealand Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee confirmed that up to 10 military personnel will be sent to the Middle East to discuss New Zealand's role in the fight against ISIS. For security reasons, Brownlee declined to reveal the countries the troops will visit, but reports had indicated that New Zealand has partners in bases in the region.

Before the Cabinet makes its final decision, the advance team will have returned. New Zealand has given an additional $1 million in humanitarian aid to help those who have fled their homes in Iraq and Syria aside from the $13.5 million previously contributed since 2011. Mr Key has committed to step up efforts in intelligence operations to further understand ISIS movements.

The prime minister revealed that the government was monitoring 30 or 40 people who may possibly be tagged as "foreign fighters" or Kiwis who are participating in extremist behaviour. Aside from the people on the watch list, another 30 or 40 would need further investigation. Others who were identified as supporters of ISIS had passports cancelled by the government before they could travel to Iraq and Syria to fight, reports said.

Meanwhile, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters believes Mr Key acted too slowly in finalising the government's response to the threat of ISIS in the Middle East. Peters said his party members had agreed there was no room for complacency as ISIS remains a significant threat.