Morrison delays decision on pullout of Aussie troops in Iraq

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said no decisions had been made on whether to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison beside Defence Force Chief General Angus Campbell (left) and Colonel Jason Groat at the Taji Military Complex in Iraq. Picture: Supplied

Scott Morrison says no decisions have been made on whether to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq following the assassination of Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani.

Mr Morrison was asked on Sunday if consideration had been given to withdrawing troops from the region following an assessment of their safety by Chief of Defence Angus Campbell.

Soleimani, one of the most powerful figures in the Iranian military, was killed at an Iraqi airport in an attack ordered by Don­ald Trump. Since the attack there have been ongoing concerns for Western troops and civilians in some Middle East regions.

“These matters are under close observation and under continued review,” the Prime Minister said on Sunday, ruling out a troop withdrawal for now. “But there are no decisions. We will continue to take advice and assess the situation on the ground.” There are fewer than 300 Australian Defence Force and diplomatic personnel in Iraq with up to 2000 based elsewhere across the Middle East. The Australian embassy in Baghdad remained in lockdown, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds recently said.

Mr Morrison has said neither he nor other allied leaders were told of the impending airstrikes. He did say that Australia was aware of US concerns about Iranian military activity.

The execution of Soleimani and another senior Iraqi military figure has been applauded and criticised within the US. The US Department of Defence justified the attack by saying Soleimani had been planning attacks on US diplomats and service members throughout the Middle East.

Threats of retaliation towards the US were met with swift warnings from Mr Trump.