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New Zealand troops step up Australia training ahead of Iraq deployment

Xinhua, April 1, 2015 Adjust font size:

New Zealand troops will step up training with Australian forces in preparation for their deployment in Iraq to help in the fight against Islamic State insurgents, the New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) announced Wednesday.

The New Zealand troops would continue training with the Australian Defense Force as part of the next phase of preparation for the joint mission, which is expected to begin next month.

About 50 soldiers had been in Australia last week and another 60 this week, Land Component Commander Brigadier Peter Kelly said in a statement.

The New Zealand-based pre-deployment training had gone very well and was now complete.

"The pre-deployment training has prepared the New Zealand contingent to deliver a broad range of individual and military skills to the Iraqi Security Forces including basic weapons skills, individual and collective military skills to prepare them for combat operations, planning and conducting combat operations, and medical and logistics support," he said.

Travel details for the contingent would not be released ahead of departure for Australia on security grounds, Chief of Defense Force Lieutenant General Tim Keating said in the statement.

"ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) is a truly global terror organization, with the ability to reach out through online and social media to supporters and sympathizers in countries far from the Middle East," said Keating.

"While the likelihood of targeting of NZDF personnel is currently considered to be low, it nonetheless remains a possibility."

On Tuesday, Defense Minister Gerry Brownlee revealed the New Zealand government had reached an agreement with Iraq to give New Zealand troops the right to defend themselves during the deployment.

The agreement opened the way for New Zealand to send up to 143 personnel to Iraq to help train Iraqi troops in the fight against Islamic State insurgents. Endi