Additional troops for Iraq
Volume 11, No. 52, September 21, 2006

FIFTY-EIGHT extra troops and four Bushmasters will join the Overwatch Battle Group-West (OBG-W) in Iraq.

Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said the decision to increase the size of the force was based on an assessment made by Defence after the battle group’s first month of operations. The extra troops and equipment will increase the force protection element for our troops already based in Tallil.

The Minister said the decision would not change the role of troops in OBG-W. “The extra contingent will enhance logistics and intelligence support as well as providing increased protected mobility to the Australian troops based in Tallil,” he said.

After the transfer of security responsibility in Al Muthanna to the Iraqi Government, about 450 Australian troops were redeployed to the Tallil air base.