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CONTACT magazine

Middle East

Force Support Element– 13 personnel on the 9th Force Support Battalion Parade Ground during their farewell parade at RAAF Base Amberley. Phot by corporal Nicci Freeman.
ADF Australian Middle East News Operations 

ADF deploying to Middle East farewelled

04/09/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3790 Views 2 Comments

More than 85 ADF personnel were farewelled at RAAF Base Amberley today ahead of their upcoming deployment to the Middle East Region.

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A Royal Australian Air Force pilot look over Beirut from the flight deck of his C-130J Hercules loaded with Australian aid relief supplies for the people of Lebanon. Photo by Corporal Tristan Kennedy.
ADF Australian Middle East News Overseas 

ADF aid to Beirut after blast

21/08/202021/08/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3115 Views 0 Comments

ADF delivered emergency stores to Beirut after a devastating explosion caused thousands of causalities and significant structural damage across the city.

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Middle East News Overseas 

Insane video footage out of Lebanon explosion

05/08/202005/08/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4649 Views 0 Comments Lebanon explosion

No words necessary…     Some reports quote the Lebanese Prime Minister saying the explosion was caused by an estimated 2750

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Middle East New Zealand News Overseas 

NZSAS cleared in New Zealand ‘war-crimes inquiry’

31/07/202031/07/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5961 Views 1 Comment

New Zealand’s Chief of Defence Force Air Marshal Kevin Short backed the NZSAS following the release of a report from the Inquiry into Operation Burnham.

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HMAS Toowoomba in the Southern Arabian Gulf on Operation Manitou. Photo by Leading Seaman Richard Cordell.
Australian Middle East News Operations Royal Australian Navy Videos 

Toowoomba heads home after successful mission

19/06/202026/06/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3064 Views 0 Comments

Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Toowoomba is returning home after completing a six-month deployment to the Middle East.

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Australian soldiers and Iraqi forward air controllers wave to the crew of an Iraqi Army helicopter as it departs at the conclusion of training at Taji Military Complex, Iraq. Photo by Corporal David Said.
ADF Australian Middle East News Operations 

Australia ends training mission at Taji Military Complex

05/06/202005/06/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5072 Views 0 Comments

Australia has successfully completed its training mission at Taji Military Complex in Iraq where, since 2015, they have trained more than 47,000 Iraqis.

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An Afghan Air Force A-29 Super Tucano crew chief give signals to his pilot before takeoff at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. The AAF has an approved strength of about 8000 aircrew, maintainers and support staff. AAF is based at three air wings and multiple detachments across Afghanistan. US Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Sean Martin.
Middle East News USA 

Raytheon expands Afghan Air Force pilot training

13/05/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2767 Views 0 Comments

The US Army Contracting Command has Raytheon Technologies to train Afghanistan Air Force pilots under a three-year contract valued up to $145 million.

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A New Zealand soldier and NZLAV on patrol in north-east Bamyian province, Afghanistan. NZDF photo.
Middle East New Zealand News Operations Overseas 

OMAR wins $6million contract to re-clear NZ’s cleared Afghan ranges

05/05/202005/05/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3470 Views 0 Comments

NZDF has signed a contractor to carry out additional clearance of five firing ranges used by its Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan, Afghanistan.

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ADF Australian Middle East News Operations 

Five ADF members test positive for COVID-19 in Middle East – now home

01/05/202001/05/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2037 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

Five ADF personnel have tested positive to COVID-19 in the Middle East and have since been flown home to Australia for treatment and/or case management.

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New Zealand Defence Force personnel onboard a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130H Hercules on their way home after more than five months deployment in Iraq followed by two weeks in isolation to meet COVID-19 requirements. The Hercules dropped members off in Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and at RNZAF Base Ohakea in Manawatū before returning to RNZAF Base Auckland later today. NZDF photo.
Middle East New Zealand News Operations 

NZDF Taji crew home after COVID-19 isolation

11/04/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2250 Views 0 Comments COVID-19, Taji

A group of NZDF personnel who returned recently from Iraq have finished their two-week COVID-19 isolation and are now on their way home to their families.

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150 parcels of illicit drugs including hashish and heroin are made ready for destruction on the flight deck of HMAS Toowoomba after a successful boarding during Operation Manitou. Photo by Leading Seaman Richard Cordell.
Australian Middle East News Operations Royal Australian Navy 

HMAS Toowoomba nabs 3 tonne of narcotics

30/03/202030/03/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2530 Views 0 Comments

HMAS Toowoomba interdicted more than 3000 kilograms of illegal narcotics including hashish and heroin in the Gulf of Aden on 19 March.

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Photo by Corporal David Said.
Middle East New Zealand News Operations 

Kiwis end Taji mission – home to quarantine

30/03/202030/03/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2179 Views 0 Comments Taji Military Complex

NZDF’s contribution to train Iraqi Security Forces to combat ISIS is at an end and the first troops from the final contingent are home – in quarantine.

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James Stevens MP, Member for Sturt, participates in combat first aid training during an ADF Parliamentary Program visit to Australia’s main operating base in the Middle East. Photo by Leading Seaman Craig Walton.
ADF Australian Middle East News Operations 

ADF adjusting posture in Middle East because of COVID-19

23/03/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3001 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

The Australian Defence Force is temporarily relocating non-essential personnel from Iraq and Afghanistan as a result of COVID-19.

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Senator Hollie Hughes participates in combat first aid training during her visit to Australia’s main operating base in the Middle East region. Photo by Leading Seaman Craig Walton.
ADF Australian Middle East News Operations 

Politicians get a taste of deployment in Middle East

23/03/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2299 Views 0 Comments

Three Australian politicians recently experienced what life is like for deployed Australian Defence Force personnel in the Middle East. 

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Iraqi Army soldiers conduct a live-fire training exercise under the supervision of New Zealand Army soldiers at Taji Military Complex, Iraq. ADF photo.
ADF Australian Middle East News Operations 

Second attack on Camp Taji

14/03/202014/03/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3823 Views 0 Comments

ADF has confirmed that a rocket attack occurred at the Taji Military Complex on today at about midday local time – around 6pm Australian eastern time.

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Members of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces deploying as part of the next rotation the United Nations Assistance Mission – Iraq take their seats on a Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III in preparation for take-off. Photo by Captain Krystelle Jones.
Australian Middle East News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Air Force 

RAAF airlifts Fijians to Middle East

12/03/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3591 Views 0 Comments

Australia’s relationship with Fiji has strengthened with two sustainment missions for 2020 transporting Fijian peacekeepers to the Middle East in March.

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An Iraqi Army soldier disarms an enemy role player during a rehearsal of the Officer and Junior Leaders Course culminating activity at Taji Military Complex, Iraq. Photo by Corporal David Said.
ADF Australian Middle East News Operations 

Rocket attack on Australian camp in Iraq

12/03/202014/03/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3508 Views 0 Comments

Defence has confirmed a rocket attack occurred at the Taji Military Camp north of Baghdad on the evening of 11 March 2020 (local time).

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Major General Susan Coyle addresses members of Force Protection Element 12 before their departure from Afghanistan. ADF photo.
ADF Australian Middle East News Operations 

Force Protection Element 12 farewelled from Afghanistan

29/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4781 Views 0 Comments

FPE-12 has ended a 6-month deployment to Camp Qargha, Kabul, where they provided force protection to coalition advisors on a train, advise, assist mission.

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A New Zealand soldier and NZLAV on patrol in north-east Bamyian province, Afghanistan. NZDF photo.
Middle East News Operations Overseas 

Rule change forces NZDF tender for range clearances in Afghanistan

13/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3091 Views 0 Comments

NZDF has been forced by rule changes to carry out new clearances of firing ranges used by its PRT in the Bamyan province Afghanistan earlier this century.

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Australian Middle East News Operations Royal Australian Navy 

HMAS Toowoomba begins operations in Middle East

08/02/202026/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2952 Views 0 Comments

HMAS Toowoomba and her ship’s company of around 190 personnel arrived in Bahrain to commence operations in the Middle East

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