By NNN-Bernama
Melbourne : The job of Australian troops in southern Iraq is done and they can come home mid-year, according to Australia’s defence head Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston.
Houston he told a Senate estimates committee hearing today both Al-Muthanna and Dhi Qar provinces had been under Iraqi security control for almost two years and in that time they had not needed to call on Australian forces for back-up.
“We have seen very pleasing results from the (Iraqi) security forces deployed in the two provinces,” the Herald Sun newspaper quotes Houstan as telling the hearing in Canberra.
“They have had a number of security challenges over the months and they have come out on top without any support from us.
“In all cases, the hard part, the part which requires confronting the people causing trouble, they have come out on top.
“It has been a very pleasing outcome — have achieved our objectives in southern Iraq.
“When you look at the two provinces, it is time to leave.”
The Australians will pull out at the end of the current six-month rotation, in the middle of the year.
After that, Australia’s major military contribution to the Iraq mission will be two surveillance aircraft and a warship, it is reported.
Australia will also retain its 100-member security detachment in Baghdad which guards Australian diplomats. A number of Australian officers attached to the coalition headquarters will also remain.
Both the United States and Britain were set to reduce troop numbers in the months ahead, Houstan told the Senate committee hearing.
An Australian warship will continue to provide security for Iraq’s two offshore oil terminals.
Houston said it was likely to be a couple of years before the Iraqi navy was able to take over that responsibility.
“They still have a long way to go in that regard,” he said.
As well, RAAF AP-3C Orion aircraft will conduct surveillance missions over the Persian Gulf and Iraq from a base outside Iraq.
Special Minister of State John Faulkner said the Government was exploring further options for economic and development assistance for Iraq.