December 11, 2023
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has announced that Australian combat aircraft will join the international coalition against ISIL in Iraq.
Abbott said up to eight RAAF F/A18 aircraft, an E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, and a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker and Transport aircraft will be deployed to the United Arab Emirates.
The Federal Government has announced details of the deployment of Royal Australian Air Force elements to the Middle East, in preparation “for a potential military campaign against Iraq should military action become necessary”.
The Government will deploy 14 F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft, three C130 Hercules transport aircraft and an Air Forward Command Element.
The Minister for Defence, Senator Robert Hill, said that even though “the Australian Government has not made any decision to commit to military operations against Iraq”, the deployment was part of a campaign “to step up diplomatic pressure on Saddam Hussein” and “to ensure that the men and women of the ADF are given the best possible opportunity to prepare for the possibility of conflict in the event that a diplomatic solution cannot be found”.