The Australian Cabinet on Friday authorised air strikes in Iraq against Islamic State militants, joining the US, UK, Turkey and other countries in military action.
"Today Cabinet has authorised Australian air strikes in Iraq, at the request of the Iraqi government and in support of the Iraqi government. Also subject to final legal documentation, Cabinet has authorised the deployment of Australian special forces into Iraq to advise and assist Iraqi forces," Prime Minister Tony Abbott said at a press briefing.
"I have to warn this deployment to Iraq could be quite lengthy," he said, adding, “I want to reassure the Australian people that it will be as long as it needs to be, but as short as it possibly can be.”
“Yes it is a combat deployment, but it is essentially a humanitarian mission to protect the people of Iraq and ultimately the people of Australia."
"This is not a fight we can or should shirk," Abbott said. See video by Fairfax media here.
On Thursday, the Turkish parliament voted in favour of military action against IS militants in Iraq and Syria.
"Today Cabinet has authorised Australian air strikes in Iraq, at the request of the Iraqi government and in support of the Iraqi government. Also subject to final legal documentation, Cabinet has authorised the deployment of Australian special forces into Iraq to advise and assist Iraqi forces," Prime Minister Tony Abbott said at a press briefing.
"I have to warn this deployment to Iraq could be quite lengthy," he said, adding, “I want to reassure the Australian people that it will be as long as it needs to be, but as short as it possibly can be.”
“Yes it is a combat deployment, but it is essentially a humanitarian mission to protect the people of Iraq and ultimately the people of Australia."
"This is not a fight we can or should shirk," Abbott said. See video by Fairfax media here.
On Thursday, the Turkish parliament voted in favour of military action against IS militants in Iraq and Syria.