Australia to deploy 200 special forces troops in Iraq

Associated Press

CANBERRA, Australia

Australia soon will deploy 200 special forces troops in Iraq to advise and assist Iraqi security forces a month after the Australians were sent to the Middle East, the foreign minister said today.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in a statement from Baghdad that she had secured the necessary legal guarantees from the Iraqi government to go ahead with the deployment of the elite troops.

The Australian special forces arrived a month ago in the United Arab Emirates to participate in the multinational coalition put together by the U.S. to battle the Islamic State group.