Australia has accepted the request immediatly from the US and the first 600 Australian military personal & fighter jets will be leaving within hours to join their fellow Aussies already deployed in the Middle East .. and this will continue over the next couple of days & weeks.
miApples shall break away from our regular tech & social news posts to keep you updated on any important developments as they break.
SECURITY ALERT REMINDER
A TERROR ATTACK IN AUSTRALIA IS NOW HIGHLY LIKLEY & EXPECTED FROM WITHIN.
IF YOU NOTICE ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS PLEASE PHONE ..
IMMEDIATELY
PLEASE STAY ALERT & VIGILANT
AAP
Prime Minister Tony Abbott is warning Australia's involvement in the Iraq conflict could last many months after announcing the deployment of 600 military personnel to tackle Islamic State extremists.
Combat aircraft and special forces advisers will be sent to the United Arab Emirates as part of an international coalition, with Australia receiving a specific request for support from the US government.
Australia's contribution will include up to eight Super Hornet combat aircraft, an early warning and control aircraft and aerial refuelling aircraft.
A contingent of Special Forces will be sent to potentially act as military advisers to Iraqi and other security forces.
The commitment was a 'balanced and proportionate contribution' to the fight against Islamic State (IS), the prime minister said on Sunday.
However, it did not mean Australia was going to war in Iraq.
A decision had yet to be taken to commit to combat operations against IS militants, he said.
'Nevertheless Australia is prepared to engage in international operations to disrupt and degrade ISIL because of the threat that this murderous death cult poses not just to the people of Iraq, not just to the people of the Middle East but to the whole world, including to Australia,' he told reporters in Darwin.
News of the deployment comes days after US President Barack Obama ordered a 'relentless' war against Islamic State, including air strikes in Syria and expanded operations in Iraq to 'destroy' the jihadists.
Mr Abbott warned that should Australia join the fight against IS, the operation could go on for 'quite some time'.
'Months rather than weeks, perhaps many, many months indeed,' he said. (years)
'Air elements' would depart within hours & over the next week, while 'military elements' could leave sooner, he said.
The prime minister announced the deployment following a meeting of the national security committee and cabinet, and in the wake of international outrage at the the beheading of British aid worker David Haines.
Mr Abbott's reaction to the beheading - the third in recent weeks - was one of 'shock, horror, outrage and fury'.
'The evil and exaltation in evil that was yet again on display today, should make all of us more resolved than ever to do whatever we reasonably can to disrupt, degrade and if possible destroy this movement,' he said.
Labor gave bipartisan support to the deployment, but the Greens condemned it as mission creep after Australia's involvement in aid drops and weapons deliveries to Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten described the murder of of David Haines as 'shocking and sickening'.
'Australia has a role to play in eradicating this evil and we are reassured that our support is being provided at the request of, and in full coordination with, the Iraqi Government,' he said.
On Friday, Australia lifted its terror alert level from medium to high, but the government has stressed that does not mean an attack is imminent.
Prime Minister Abbott again said the conflict had 'reached out' to Australia, with at least 60 Australians fighting with IS and a further 100 supporting extremist groups.
However, he rejected suggestions Australia's growing involvement in Iraq would make it a bigger terrorist target.
'These terrorists and would-be terrorists are not targeting us for what we have done, or for what we might do, they are targeting us for who we are, they are targeting us for our freedom, our tolerance, for our compassion, for our decency,' he said.
AAP
Safe travels to the Aussie troops.
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