At a press conference today in Darwin, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that 600 Australian troops will be deployed to the Middle East to aid the United States in its military operations against ISIL.
The Australian report that the group will comprise 400 personnel from the RAAF, and a further 200 from the army. The ADF will also reportedly send a ‘Special Operations Task Group’ to aid the Iraqi government in the fight against ISIL.
Abbott insists that this deployment does not mean that Australia is at war, and the decision has not yet been made to send forces into action. “There are obviously further decisions to be taken before Australian forces will be committed to combat operations in Iraq,” he said.
“Nevertheless Australia is prepared to engage in international operations to disrupt and degrade ISIL because of the threat that this murderous death cult poses not just to the people of Iraq [but] to the whole world including to Australia.”
He want on to warn that “should this preparation and deployment extend into combat operations,” the military action could go on for quote some time – “months rather than weeks, perhaps many, many months indeed.”
Earlier this week, U.S. President Barack Obama called for “relentless” military action against the Islamic state. Abbott says that in a private conversation, Obama declared that he is “prepared for quite a lengthy American contribution to this particular mission.”
Opposition leader Bill Shorten has pledged bipartisan support, describing ISIL as a “barbaric” organisation.
The Australian government estimate that between 60 and 70 Australian citizens are fighting for IS in the Middle East, however, Attorney General George Brandis has admitted that not all of their identities are known.
Abbott’s announcement follows the execution of British aid worker David Haines. Various news sources report that ISIL released a video of Haines’ killing earlier today.
Photo: Dan Kitwood via Getty Images
