Australian military personnel to stay the course in Iraq, says Scott Morrison

About 300 Australian personnel will remain in Iraq following Wednesday’s missile attack on US bases.

Scott Morrison in Canberra on Thursday. Picture: AAP

Scott Morrison has vowed to stay the course in Iraq, saying about 300 Australian personnel will remain in the country followi­ng Wednesday’s missile attack on US bases.

The Prime Minister also confirmed that Anzac-class frigate the HMAS Toowoomba would leave for the Middle East as scheduled on Monday, and its mission to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz would remain­ unchanged.

The national security committee of cabinet considered a possible pullout from Iraq in a meeting on Wednesday, but decide­d not to withdraw ­personnel “because the situation overnight has stabilised”, Mr Morrison said.

He said US President Donald Trump’s statement backing away from further military ­action against Iran, together with unspecified “intelligence”, “means we are in a position to continue to undertake the mission we have set for ourselves in the Middle East, and we remain committed to that, as do our other partners”.

Mr Morrison said Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell and Foreign Minister Marise Payne had advised that “every precaution is being taken to ensure that Australian military and diplomatic personnel are safe”.

ADF personnel in Iraq include military trainers working with the Iraqi army, and a special operations task group providing military advice and assistance to the Iraqi security services.

None was harmed in the missile strikes, and there were no casualties. Mr Morrison said he was confident embassy personnel in Iran were also safe.

HMAS Toowoomba will sail via India to the Middle East, where it will join a US-led effort to protect oil supplies leaving the region, including to Australia.