Operation Retake Mosul From ISIS Daesh: Tony Abbott Approves Deployment of Aussie Soldiers

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has approved the deployment of 330 Aussie soldiers to Iraq. The forces will be out on the Middle Eastern dessert to train the Iraqi military, in what is part of Operation Retake Mosul from the radical extremists ISIS Daesh. The training mission, Mr Abbott said, is expected to take two years.

The military force is part of the international Building Partner Capacity (BPC) training mission in Iraq, a part of the wider effort to combat the threat of the Islamic group. Mr Abbott stressed the group is not part of any combat mission.

“Preparing the Iraqi security forces for the next phase of the campaign — and ultimately to retake Mosul, the death cult’s de facto capital in Iraq — is the vital next step,” Mr Abbott writes in The Australian on Wednesday. He added part of the training is to guide the forces how to win the “hearts and minds” of the Sunni minority. “As well as critical military skills, our personnel will provide mentoring and training in professional military conduct, including the law of armed conflict. Winning hearts and minds will be crucial if the threat posed by ISIL is to be reduced and ultimately destroyed.”

The deployed Aussie troops will work hand in hand with 100 New Zealand military personnel. Both forces will be stationed at the Taji military complex north of Baghdad.

Mr Abbott noted it is crucial to fortify the partnership between Shia militias and Iranian Special Forces to recapture Tikrit. “The stronger the Iraqi regular army is, the less likely it is that Shi’ite militia will play a continuing role in the ultimate retaking of the country.”

He said training the forces will take time and sustained effort, and noted setbacks as well as further advances could be experienced. “This is a difficult and dangerous task.”

The 300 strong force largely come from army’s 7th Brigade in Brisbane. There are about 200 Australian special forces already based in Iraq. Around 170 of them will begin returning home in September.

With the support of the US-led coalition, Iraqi forces have halted ISIS Daesh’s advances and have begun to win back ground in recent months. But they require international training support if they are to become self-sustaining in their fight against the Islamist death cult, and ultimately re-establish control over Iraqi territory.

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