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Defence has announced that Australia has successfully completed its training mission at Taji Military Complex in Iraq. Since 2015, Australia has trained more than 47,000 members of the Iraqi security forces through the joint Australia-New Zealand Building Partner Capacity Program.
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Australian support at Taji has helped Iraqi security forces to deliver on the country's capacity to deliver training and conduct independent operations. Defence said that this has been vital in Iraq's ongoing battle to defeat Islamic State factions present in the Middle Eastern nation.
Task Group Taji was first deployed to Iraq back in April 2015 in order to assist with training regular Iraqi security forces. The force is part of Joint Task Force 633 in the Middle East, which originally fell under the purview of Major General Craig Orme.
Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds commended the Australian Defence Force for its contribution to Task Group Taji.
“The ADF has been at the very forefront of the work at Taji,” said Minister Reynolds.
“Last year, I saw first-hand the incredible contribution our personnel have made at Taji, and had the opportunity to thank them for their significant efforts.
“The substantial progress made against Daesh and the increased capacity of the Iraqi security forces means that our training mission at Taji has reached logical and natural conclusion."
In November 2019, Australia’s in-country partner, the Iraqi School of Infantry, was the first Coalition facility to declare full independent operating capability, enabling training responsibilities to be handed back to the Iraqi government.
Australia will continue to play a key role in the Global Counter Daesh Coalition and provide support to Iraq through contributions to the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service, Coalition air capabilities and Coalition headquarters.
