Australia to deploy 200 special forces in Iraq

Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al Jaafari (R) speaks during a news conference with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in Baghdad on October 18, 2014. - Reuters

Canberra— Australia will soon deploy 200 special forces troops in Iraq to advise and assist Iraqi security forces a month after the Australians were sent to the Middle East, the foreign minister said on Monday.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in a statement from Baghdad that she had secured the necessary legal guarantees from the Iraqi government to go ahead with the deployment of the elite troops.

Australia also sent six F/A-18F Super Hornet jet fighters which are flying almost daily combat missions against ISIS targets in northern Iraq.

Australia sent 2,000 troops to support US and British forces in the 2003 Iraq War. But Australia has ruled out a ground combat role in the current conflict.