Australia said today 330 troops were heading to Iraq for two years to train local soldiers fighting jihadists including the Islamic State group, joining an aerial and special forces contingent in the region.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the troops would be deployed from Wednesday and operate from the massive Taji base complex north of Baghdad alongside 100 soldiers from New Zealand.
They were mostly drawn from the army's 7th Brigade based in Brisbane, he added.
"Our building partner capacity mission is all about trying to ensure that the legitimate government of Iraq has a trained and disciplined and capable force that understands the rules of armed conflict at its disposal to retake the territory which is currently under the control of the death cult (Islamic State).
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The announcement came as the US, which is leading an air campaign against the IS group, said the jihadists had lost control of "25 to 30" per cent of the territory it holds in Iraq after coalition air strikes and an Iraqi offensive.
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Some 170 Australian special forces are already in Iraq helping train government troops. Eight F/A18s based in the United Arab Emirates are also taking part in air strikes against IS militants.
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Canberra has boosted security measures at home amid fears of heightened threats from IS-inspired extremists, with about 90 Australians thought to be fighting with the group in Iraq and Syria.
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The government in February also flagged changes to immigration laws to allow it to revoke or suspend Australian citizenship for dual nationals implicated in terrorism.
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