OMEN
06-18-2006, 09:55 AM
AUSTRALIA was poised to redeploy its troops in the southern Iraqi province of Al Muthanna in a more risky role.
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson was expected to announce details of the redeployment soon, once Japan, whose engineers in southern Iraq were being protected by Australian troops, and the British and Iraqi governments go public with their plans.
A decision to take part in the next phase in Iraq, known as Operation Overwatch, could be made in the next few days, before Dr Nelson heads to Washington and London for a week of talks with defence officials.
But a spokesman for Dr Nelson said any decision was contingent on other coalition partners revealing their plans.
Australia has 460 troops in southern Iraq as part of the Al Muthanna Task Group, serving alongside British forces.
About 30 of the Australian troops are to be redeployed to the Basic Training Centre at Tallil, near An Nasiriyah in Dhi Qar Province, and three will go to the Counter Insurgency Academy at Taji, near Baghdad, training Iraqi and coalition troops in tactics to defeat the insurgency.The remaining troops were expected to be deployed to Operation Overwatch, the next phase of the Iraq campaign, but no final decision had been made.
Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister, Salam Zikam Ali al-Zubaie, confirmed last week that Iraq was planning to take over security responsibilities from Australian, British and Japanese forces in southern Iraq this month.
The confirmation was in response to reports from Japan that Australian, British and Japanese troops were set to transfer their responsibility for security in Al Muthanna to Iraqi authorities this week and withdraw from the area soon afterwards.
"There is an agreement to take over the security responsibilities from the British, Australian and Japanese forces in southern Iraq during this month," Mr al-Zubaie said.
"It is the dream of all Iraqis that our forces will handle security issues all over Iraq."
Dr Nelson told Parliament last week the next phase in Iraq would be very dangerous, and a thorough risk assessment would be done before any decision was made.
"Whilst we are in principle disposed to redeploying to this particular role known as Operation Overwatch, we will not do so until we are satisfied that the risks have been managed to our satisfaction," he said.
AAP
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson was expected to announce details of the redeployment soon, once Japan, whose engineers in southern Iraq were being protected by Australian troops, and the British and Iraqi governments go public with their plans.
A decision to take part in the next phase in Iraq, known as Operation Overwatch, could be made in the next few days, before Dr Nelson heads to Washington and London for a week of talks with defence officials.
But a spokesman for Dr Nelson said any decision was contingent on other coalition partners revealing their plans.
Australia has 460 troops in southern Iraq as part of the Al Muthanna Task Group, serving alongside British forces.
About 30 of the Australian troops are to be redeployed to the Basic Training Centre at Tallil, near An Nasiriyah in Dhi Qar Province, and three will go to the Counter Insurgency Academy at Taji, near Baghdad, training Iraqi and coalition troops in tactics to defeat the insurgency.The remaining troops were expected to be deployed to Operation Overwatch, the next phase of the Iraq campaign, but no final decision had been made.
Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister, Salam Zikam Ali al-Zubaie, confirmed last week that Iraq was planning to take over security responsibilities from Australian, British and Japanese forces in southern Iraq this month.
The confirmation was in response to reports from Japan that Australian, British and Japanese troops were set to transfer their responsibility for security in Al Muthanna to Iraqi authorities this week and withdraw from the area soon afterwards.
"There is an agreement to take over the security responsibilities from the British, Australian and Japanese forces in southern Iraq during this month," Mr al-Zubaie said.
"It is the dream of all Iraqis that our forces will handle security issues all over Iraq."
Dr Nelson told Parliament last week the next phase in Iraq would be very dangerous, and a thorough risk assessment would be done before any decision was made.
"Whilst we are in principle disposed to redeploying to this particular role known as Operation Overwatch, we will not do so until we are satisfied that the risks have been managed to our satisfaction," he said.
AAP