Aussie troops in Iraq suspend training operations amid rising tensions

Australian troops have suspended training in Iraq, as the US rejects reports it’s pulling its soldiers out of the war-torn country.

Exclusive: Australian Defence Force troops deployed to Iraq have suspended all training operations in their host nation but vowed to remain in country despite the Iraqi government calling for US and Coalition forces to be expelled.

It comes as the Pentagon chief denies the US has decided to pull troops from Iraq.

“There’s been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq,” US Defense Secretary Esper said today.

That’s despite an AFP report that the head of the US military’s Task Force Iraq, Brigadier General William Seely, sent a letter to the head of Iraq’s joint operations command, a copy of which was seen by AFP, informing the US military was preparing for “movement out of Iraq”.

The ADF’s training of Iraqi forces to maintain security and stability was suspended with focus switched to defending bases and embassy staff from any possible threat as tensions run high.

Aussie soldiers have halted training operations in Iraq.

The US targeted killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq had already raised the prospect of war and prompted the Iraqi government to call for coalition troop expulsion, which US President Donald Trump responded to vowing to impose crippling sanctions on its sometimes ally if that call was heeded.

A spokeswoman from the office of the Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said the government remained “strongly concerned” by increased tensions in Iraq and the region.

But it was equally concerned by Iran’s “behaviour” in the Middle East.

The coffins of General Qassem Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a US drone strike, are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners in Tehran, Iran. Picture: AP

“Australia’s focus remains on supporting Iraq’s stability and unity and ensuring a de-escalation of tensions,” the spokeswoman said.

“The Australian Government is following the situation in Iraq and the broader region very closely. We continue to urge, and are in constant contact with our partners, to encourage restraint and avoid escalation. The safety and security of Australians in Iraq and across the region, including our embassy staff and ADF personnel, remains our top priority.”

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The killing of Qassem Soleimani in Iraq prompted the Iraqi government to call for coalition troop expulsion.

That messaging followed a formal statement from the Coalition Joint Task Force, which includes the ADF, where it declared its priority now remained protecting Coalition personnel on Iraqi bases in its mission to defeat Daesh, Islamic State.

“Repeated rocket attacks over the last two months by elements of Kata’ib Hezbollah have caused the death of Iraqi Security Forces personnel and a US civilian,” it said in its statement.

“As a result we are now fully committed to protecting the Iraqi bases that host Coalition troops. This has limited our capacity to conduct training with partners and to support their operations against Daesh and we have therefore paused these activities, subject to continuous review.”

The Philippines, meanwhile, said it had drawn up contingency plans to evacuate thousands of its citizens working in Iraq and Iran.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the military to prepare to deploy its aircraft and ships “at any moment’s notice” to evacuate thousands of Filipino workers in Iraq and Iran, South Korea has said something similar.

Originally published as Aussie troops in Iraq suspend training operations amid rising tensions