Australian troops to remain in Iraq 'until the job is done'

The pledge from the defence minister comes after US president Donald Trump announced American troops would withdraw from Syria.

A supplied Australian Defence Force image released Monday, Oct. 19, 2009.

Soldiers from the Special Operations Task Group use their rifle scopes to investigate the surrounding mountains during an operation in southern Afghanistan. Source: Australian Defence Force

Defence Minister Christopher Pyne has visited troops in Iraq and declared Australia will be there "until the job we set out to do is done".

Mr Pyne reassured Middle Eastern leaders Australia has no intention of withdrawing from the war-torn nation, where 600 troops have been based since 2014.

He has also suggested Australian troops could take a stronger role in the Middle East if the US makes a speedy retreat.

His pledge comes after US President Donald Trump announced American troops would withdraw from Syria and wind back operations in Afghanistan, claiming Islamic State had been defeated.

President Trump has said he has no plans to withdraw US forces from Iraq but troop reductions in Syria and Afghanistan could have significant flow-on consequences.


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Published 20 January 2019 12:08pm

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