Concerns Australians being recruited to militant group ISIS

12 Jun 2014,

There are concerns within the Islamic community that militant group ISIS is recruiting in Australian suburbs. Some are warning that young Muslim men are being 'brainwashed'.

Iraq crisis: Australian planes drop humanitarian aid into Amerli residents under siege by Islamic State militants

31 Aug 2014,

(Translation of this article appears in Arabic section)

Royal Australian Air Force planes have dropped humanitarian aid into the besieged Shiite town of Amerli in north-eastern Iraq ahead of delivering weapons to fighters battling Islamic State (IS) militants.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott confirmed that Australia joined other nations in making air drops of humanitarian aid after overnight announcing RAAF aircraft based in Dubai would be used to fly munitions and arms into Iraq to fight IS.

Mr Abbott said Australia had been asked by the United States to contribute to a multi-nation mission to help communities fighting IS.

"Australia has participated in a humanitarian air drop to the besieged town of Amerli in northern Iraq... we have done so at the request of the Obama Administration and with the permission of the Iraqi Government," said.

"I can announce that in coming days, an Australian C-17 aircraft will be involved in air lifting equipment and supplies to Erbil in the Kurdish part of Iraq.

"I can also say that we stand ready to participate in further humanitarian air drops in Iraq should these be required."

There is no role envisaged for combat troops on the ground and none of us want to get involved in another Middle Eastern war but it is important to do what reasonably can be done to avert potential genocide

Prime Minister Tony Abbott

Chief of Defence Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin said the Australian humanitarian mission delivered 15 pallets of food, water and hygiene packs, enough for 2,600 people for a day.

The food came from the World Food Program and the hygiene packs were from AusAid and marked "Aid from Australia". The aircraft since has returned safely to the base.

Mr Abbott said there has been no specific request for combat troops.

"There is no role envisaged for combat troops on the ground and none of us want to get involved in another Middle Eastern war but it is important to do what reasonably can be done to avert potential genocide," he said.

"Any military activity by Australia over and above the humanitarian air drops and the military air lift that we have talked about now will be in participation... with allies and it would be at the request of the government of Iraq but no specific request has been made."

Armed residents of Amerli have managed to fend off attacks by IS fighters, who regard its majority Shiite Turkman population as apostates.

The more than 15,000 people believed to be trapped inside the town are facing major shortages of food and water after being surrounded by IS for more than two months.

The US military has also launched fresh attacks on IS forces near Iraq's Mosul dam, deploying fighter aircraft and drones to carry out the airstrikes, the Pentagon said.

IS militants overran most of Sunni Arab Iraq after seizing the northern city of Mosul on June 10, and have proclaimed a caliphate straddling the border with Syria, where they also control vast swathes of territory.

Labor backs aid, weapons delivery, Greens call for debate

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Labor supported the Government's decision to contribute to "a remarkable act of international cooperation" to assist communities in Iraq with humanitarian relief and weaponry.

"What we see today is the air forces of several countries resupplying with light weapons Kurdish Peshmerga troops who are the front line against the Islamic State incursions in northern Iraq," he said.

"The two aeroplanes that the RAAF are supplying will equip their tasks in hazardous environment with great distinction."

Greens leader Christine Milne said she wants a parliamentary debate this week over future Australian involvement in Iraq.

"Why wouldn't Australians be taken into the confidence of the Prime Minister?" she said.

"Even the US Congress has a say. Many democracies around the world actually have a requirement that their parliaments tick off on troops being deployed to war."

Federal Independent MP Andrew Wilkie said Australia has effectively gone to war in Iraq by agreeing to extend RAAF involvement.

Mr Wilkie says the situation in Iraq is dire but the Parliament must have a vote about future Australian involvement.

"If the Australian Government, if Tony Abbott wants us to be gun runners for the Kurds at the behest of the United States then we are part of the war, we have gone to war, we've taken sides," he said.

"And a decision so momentous should not have been made behind closed doors by the National Security Committee of Cabinet. It needs to be made by the whole of the Australian Parliament."

ABC/AFP