Operation Okra
| Operation Okra | |
|---|---|
| Part of the 2014 Intervention in Iraq | |
_FA_18F_Super_Hornet_landing.jpg) A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18F Super Hornet | |
| Location | |
| Objective | Australia's contribution to the War against ISIL |
| Date | 31 August 2014 – present (10 years, 1 month and 4 weeks) |
| Executed by |  Australian Army Royal Australian Air Force |
| Outcome | Ongoing |
Operation Okra is the Australian Defence Force (ADF) contribution to the Military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The operation commenced on 31 August 2014,[1] and its stated aim is to combat ISIL threats in Iraq.[2] The force is under the command of Joint Task Force 633 in the Middle East.[3]
Air force contribution
Aircraft
In late September 2014, an Air Task Group (ATG) of 400 personnel from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was deployed to Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates as part of the coalition to combat Islamic State forces in Iraq.[4] Aircraft include:[5]
Offensive aircraft:
- 6 x F/A-18F Super Hornet from No. 1 Squadron RAAF
Support:
- 1 x E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft from No. 2 Squadron RAAF
- 1 x KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport from No. 33 Squadron RAAF
The ATG began operations on 1 October.[6]
A number of C-17 and C-130J transport aircraft based in the Middle East have also been used to conduct airdrops of humanitarian aid and to airlift arms and munitions since August.[7][8][9][10]
Airstrikes
| 8 October 2014 | A F/A-18 Super Hornet dropped two bombs which destroyed an ISIL facility[11] |
Army contribution
The Australian Army has deployed a Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) of approximately 200 personnel to the United Arab Emirates in preparation for operations to assist and advise Iraqi Security Forces.[12] The troops will be deployed to Iraq when a legal framework covering their presence in the country is agreed between the Australian and Iraqi Governments.[13]
See also
References
- ^ "RAAF mission against ISIS: Pilots did not drop bombs because of collateral damage risk". News.com.au. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
- ^ "Operation OKRA". Defence Operations: Iraq. Department of Defence. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ Grubb, Ben (4 October 2014). "The man calling Australia's shots in the new Iraq war". SMH.com.au. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ "RAAF Air Task Group Arrives in Middle East" (Press release). Department of Defence. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
- ^ Bree, Max (9 October 2014). "Largest group in decades". Air Force: The Official Newspaper of the Royal Australian Air Force (5619 ed.). Canberra: Department of Defence. p. 3. ISSN 1329-8909. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
- ^ "Australian Air Task Group commences operational missions over Iraq". Department of Defence. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ Katharine Murphy, deputy political editor (2014-08-14). "Australian troops complete first humanitarian mission in northern Iraq". The Guardian. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Wroe, David (31 August 2014). "SAS to Protect Crews on Arms Drops in Iraq". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. ISSN 0312-6315.
{{cite news}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - ^ "ADF delivers fourth arms shipment to Iraq" (Press release). Department of Defence. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ "ADF delivers fifth shipment to Iraq" (Press release). Department of Defence. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ^ "First Australian air strike in Iraq bombs Isis target, says ADF". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- ^ "Support to Iraq" (PDF). Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1338 ed.). Canberra: Department of Defence. 9 October 2014. p. 3. ISSN 0729-5685.
- ^ Brissenden, Michael. "Deadly Australian air strikes dent IS morale in Iraq: Rear Admiral David Johnston". ABC News. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
External links
- Operation Okra, www.defence.gov.au – Sub-pages include:
- Media releases;
- Imagery; and
- Videos