Tony Abbott Announces Australian Troop Deployment to Fight Islamic State in Iraq

Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced on March 3 that the Australian government would commit troops to fight against the Islamic State in Iraq. Abbott said around 300 Australian Defence Force personnel would work closely with New Zealand troops and would be deployed within weeks.

“I want to stress that we haven’t taken this decision lightly. Ultimately, it is Iraq that must defeat the death cult but we do not want to leave the Iraqis on their own…The Government’s decision has the support of the Prime Minister of Iraq and it responds to a formal request from the United States to contribute specific Australian Defence Force capabilities to this international coalition,” Abbott said. Credit: Facebook/Tony Abbott