Australia Deploys More Troops to Iraq [View All]

[The Straight Story]

Australia Deploys More Troops to Iraq
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, April 19, 2005 – Coalition forces in Iraq are welcoming the deployment of 450 more Australian military personnel. “These are great soldiers,” said a U.S. official in Baghdad, Iraq.
The new Australian contingent will bring the number of “Aussies” in country up to 1,370, officials at the Australian embassy here said.

Australia has been among the most steadfast allies in the war on terror. Australian forces moved in with U.S. special operations forces against the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan.

Australia also sent troops -- among them elite special operations forces -- to Iraq and went “from the berm in Kuwait to Baghdad” with U.S. and British forces in the opening days of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The added military presence will provide a task group to support the Japanese Iraq Reconstruction and Support Group. The Aussies will also train Iraqi forces.

http://www.dod.mil/news/Apr2005/20050419_661.html