Australia sends 600 troops to UAE to prepare for ISIL campaign

The deployment comes two days after the country lifted its terror alert to 'high' amid growing concerns that Australian extremists are returning to the country from fighting in Iraq and Syria.

SYDNEY // Australia will deploy 600 troops to the UAE to join the US-led international coalition gearing up for war against ISIL militants.

The deployment comes two days after Canberra lifted its terror alert level to “high” on growing concern about Australian extremists returning from fighting in Iraq and Syria.

Tony Abbott, the prime minister, said the deployment of about “400 air personnel and about 200 military personnel” followed a formal request from Washington for Australia to contribute to the international coalition against the rampaging Islamist group.

He said Australia was “not deploying combat troops but contributing to international efforts to prevent the humanitarian crisis from deepening”.

“There are obviously further decisions to be taken before Australian forces will be committed to combat operations in Iraq,” Mr Abbott said.

“Nevertheless, Australia is prepared to engage in international operations to disrupt and degrade ISIL because of the threat that this murderous death cult poses not just to the people of Iraq, not just to the people of the Middle East, but to the whole world including to Australia.”

The US has been working to forge a coalition against ISIL fighters in Iraq and Syria, with secretary of state John Kerry in the Middle East to shore up Arab support.

The Australian deployment to UAE, a staging post for the country’s military operations into the region, will include eight RAAF F/A18 combat aircraft, an E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, and a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker and Transport aircraft.

The defence force was also preparing special forces soldiers to serve as military advisers to assist Iraqi and other security forces tackling ISIL, the prime minister said.

Mr Abbott said the deployment was focused on Iraq and not Syria.

“At this point in time, Australia is not intending to operate in Syria,” he said. “The legalities of operating in Iraq with the consent and welcome of the Iraqi government are obviously very different from the legalities of operating in Syria, which has a government that Australia doesn’t recognise.”

Mr Abbott said if combat operations took place, they could last “months rather than weeks, perhaps many, many months indeed”.

* Agence France-Presse