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| Iraq |
| Australia to end air campaign against Islamic State in Syria, Iraq |
| 2017-12-22 |
| [IsraelTimes] Country's six Hornet jets to leave Middle East after three-year mission, though several hundred troops to remain to train Iraqi forces. Defense Minister Marise Payne said Canberra had decided to scale back its mission after consultations with coalition allies following more than 2,700 sorties. "The battlefield success against ISIS means our own Operation OKRA has now reached a natural transition point and our strike aircraft will begin returning home early in the New Year," she said, referring to IS by its Arabic acronym. "Since October 2014, our Hornet pilots and support personnel have made a significant contribution in support of the Iraqi Security Forces and I commend all the personnel who have contributed over this period for their dedication, skill and professionalism." Based in the Middle East, Australia’s Air Task Group consists of six F/A-18 Hornets, an E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, and a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker and Transport plane. While the Hornets are returning, the Wedgetail and the refueling plane will continue to support coalition operations and around 380 personnel will stay to train Iraqi forces. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #5 My old Czech au pair girl and her family joined with her husband’s colleagues to put together a car full of Christmas boxes for the Czech troops in Afghanistan. They’re awfully proud of their guys in uniform. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2017-12-22 18:10 |
| #4 I understand those 4 Danish snipers got a workout. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2017-12-22 10:42 |
| #3 The Albanians did a pretty good job south of Kandahar, 2011-2012 timeframe. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2017-12-22 08:22 |
| #2 Thanks R for mentioning "Stone Platoon." Did not know about before. |
| Posted by: Woodrow 2017-12-22 08:20 |
| #1 Back in the day, Rumsfeld suggested that a good many countries support us in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some were useful, like the Brits always are, and the Aussies. But there were others, "the Stone platoon", from Estonia, a unit from El Salvador and yet others. A good many countries have gotten some version of combat time for their lifers, noncoms and commissioned. They've worked with us. As a future benefit, this may be of more use than their actual help on the ground. |
| Posted by: Richard Aubrey 2017-12-22 00:19 |