Barack Obama thanks Tony Abbott for Iraq aid, but no extra requests yet

BARACK Obama has thanked Tony Abbott for Australia’s help in Iraq, but made no specific request for extra military support.

Tony Abbott and Barack Obama chat at the White House.

US President Barack Obama has spoken with Tony Abbott to thank Australia for its strong support in Iraq, but he made no specific request for extra military help.

Today’s phone call comes ahead of Mr Obama’s planned statement on Thursday (AEST) about taking on Islamic State terrorists that the Prime Minister calls a death cult.

The two leaders agreed to coordinate closely on efforts to address the continuing humanitarian crisis in Iraq and on the steps the international community needs to take to degrade and ultimately destroy Islamic State.

Mr Obama thanked the Prime Minister for Australia’s involvement in humanitarian airdrops of food, water and other supplies and airlift missions to resupply weapons and ammunition to Kurdish Peshmerga forces.

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Mr Abbott told the President he welcomed his measured and careful response to events in Iraq and his efforts to marshal an effective international response to the threat posed by IS.

It is understood that Mr Obama did not make any specific request for additional Australian military assistance beyond the current humanitarian aid drops and delivery of weapons and ammunition by the RAAF.

Yesterday Mr Abbott said Australia was talking to its partners and allies about helping provide “military advisers” and “air capability”.

Contingency plans could involve special forces, but not infantry, on the frontline to provide advice and training and aircraft to assist or carry out air strikes.