Middle East Archives - Page 8 of 12

The Royal Navy's Duke-class frigate HMS Montrose departs Auckland, New Zealand after a five-day visit. Photo and video by Mike Millett, AirflowNZ.

HMS Montrose visits NZ during 4-year deployment

22/01/201922/01/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3309 Views 0 Comments HMS Montrose

From Devonport Naval Base in Plymouth, UK, to Devonport Naval Base in Auckland – the Royal New Zealand Navy welcomed

The Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Ballarat (FFH 155) sails alongside the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in the Arabian Gulf, Jan. 16, 2019, during exercise Intrepid Sentinel. Intrepid Sentinel brings together the John C. Stennis Strike Group, France’s Marine Nationale, United Kingdom’s Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy for a multinational exercise designed to enhance war fighting readiness and interoperability between allies and partners. The John C. Stennis Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jeffery L. Southerland)

Australian Middle East News Operations Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Ballarat joins US carrier strike group

19/01/201926/01/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5703 Views 0 Comments

Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Ballarat (FFH 155) sails alongside the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in

HMAS Ballarat’s boarding party and crew prepare 3.1 tonnes of seized hashish for disposal during the ship's deployment on Operation Manitou. Photo by Leading Seaman Bradley Darvill.

Australian Middle East News Operations Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Ballarat seizes 3.1 tonnes of hashish

13/01/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3083 Views 0 Comments

Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Ballarat has seized more than 3.1 tonnes of hashish worth about $155 million* during a boarding operation

Members of HMAS Ballarat’s boarding party lay out seized narcotics in preparation for disposal in the Middle East. Photo by Leading Seaman Bradley Darvill.

Australian Middle East News Operations Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Ballarat seized 900kg of heroin

28/12/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3897 Views 0 Comments HMAS Ballarat, Operation Manitou

Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Ballarat has seized more than 900 kilos of heroin worth approximately $279 million* during two

HMAS Ballarat's Boarding Party conducts a flag verification boarding on a suspicious dhow as part of Operation Manitou. Photo by Leading Seaman Bradley Darvill.

Australian Middle East News Operations Royal Australian Navy Videos

HMAS Ballarat settles in to sea patrols

15/12/201826/01/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2215 Views 0 Comments

After HMAS Ballarat arrived in the Gulf to begin operations in the Middle East Region, she sent back this report.

Corporal Mark Donaldson VC and MWD Odin prepare to accept the posthumously awarded PDSA Dickin Medal on behalf of Special Air Service Regiment military working dog Kuga at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Photo by WO2 R Nyffenegger.

Australian Australian Army Middle East News Operations Veterans

SAS dog awarded ‘VC for animals’

07/11/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 6948 Views 3 Comments Dikin Medal, Kuga, PDSA

Australian Army special operations military working dog Kuga was posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal – thought of as ‘the VC

A Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft refuels a French Air Force Dassault Rafale fighter on operations in the Middle East. Photo by Sergeant Mark Doran.

Australian Middle East News Operations Royal Australian Air Force

Thirst-quenching MRTT home from ops

07/11/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2509 Views 0 Comments KC-30A MRTT

The latest rotation of Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A multi role tanker transport aircraft returned to Australia last month following

ADF Australian Middle East News Operations

GG watches Gee Gees in Taji

06/11/201808/11/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2913 Views 0 Comments General Sir Peter Cosgrove, Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove

Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove visited Australian troops deployed to the Middle East on Melbourne Cup Day. Sir Peter acknowledged the

Australian Middle East News Operations

Iraqi forward observers test skills in live air-strike exercise

06/11/201810/06/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2435 Views 0 Comments Task Group Taji, Task Group Taji 7

By CAPT Anna-Lise Brink During a live fire training exercise at the Besmayah Range Complex in Iraq, Iraqi Army Forward

Family and friends wave goodbye to their loved ones on HMAS Ballarat as the ship sails from Fleet Base West, WA, to commence a nine-month operational deployment to the Middle East. Photo by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello.

Australian Middle East News Operations Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Ballarat begins nine-month deployment

28/10/201807/11/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2772 Views 0 Comments HMAS Ballarat

HMAS Ballarat departed from her home port of Fleet Base West, Garden Island, Western Australia on 28 October to begin

NZDF COMJ Major General Tim Gall and Defence Minister Ron Mark farewell New Zealand troops at RNZAF Base Ohakea as they begin their journey to the Middle East for Task Group Taji 8. NZDF photo.

Middle East New Zealand News Operations

TG Taji Rotation 8 on the move

27/10/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2923 Views 0 Comments Task Group Taji, Task Group Taji 8

About 90 New Zealand Defence Force troops left home yesterday to begin their six-month rotation withTask Group Taji, the training

A New Zealand Army soldier observes as Baghdad Fighting School instructors train members of the Iraqi Army's 41st Brigade during a live-fire range practice at Taji Military Complex, Iraq. ADF photo.

Australian Australian Army Middle East New Zealand News Operations

Task Group Taji boosts local-trainer capacity

03/10/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2913 Views 0 Comments Task Group Taji, Task Group Taji 7

The New Zealand Defence Force’s combined training mission with Australia in Iraq has helped boost the capacity of the Iraqi

The resuscitation room at the Taji Military Complex health facility named in honour of Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker. Australian Defence Force photo.

Middle East New Zealand News Operations

NZ KIA soldier honoured in Taji medical centre

11/09/201811/09/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2998 Views 0 Comments Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker, Task Group Taji

The resuscitation bay at the medical centre in Iraq’s Camp Taji has been named after Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker, New

Some of the New Zealand Army fathers serving in Iraq on Fathers' Day 2018 – Lieutenant Roger Baxter, Captain James Brosnan, Staff Sergeant James Kirkland, Lance Corporal Timothy Tupou, Warrant Officer Class Two Kahu Ranginui and Lieutenant Colonel Jason Hutchings. Photo by Corporal David Said.

Middle East New Zealand News Operations

New Zealand soldiers in Iraq on Fathers’ Day

01/09/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5283 Views 0 Comments Fathers Day

New Zealand Defence Force soldiers serving in Iraq will be relying on technology to connect with their families on Fathers’

Australian Army officer Major Varun Singh talks to family in Australia via Skype from the Taji Military Complex, Iraq. Photo by Corporal David Said.

ADF Australian Australian Army Middle East News Operations Rest of World

Fathers missing Fathers’ Day deployed to Iraq

31/08/201801/09/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3933 Views 0 Comments Fathers Day

While fathers across the country will celebrate Fathers’ Day with their families on Sunday, deployed Australian Army dads, like Brisbane-based

Female Afghan officer cadets march past the podium during a muster parade at the Afghan National Army Officer Academy near Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo supplied by NZDF.

Middle East New Zealand News Operations

NZDF train more Afghan women officers

24/08/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3492 Views 0 Comments Afghan National Army Officer Academy

New Zealand Defence Force trainers are helping Afghan women blaze a trail against inequality – training Afghan women as military

Australian Army soldiers Private Nikita Rounds and her father Sergeant Joseph Rounds catch up in the Middle East while concurrently deployed on operations in the region. Photo by Petty Officer Andrew Dakin.

Australian Australian Army Middle East News Operations

Father, daughter on operations in the Middle East

18/08/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5393 Views 0 Comments Joint Task Force 633, Operation Accordion, Operation Okra, Task Group Taji

By Captain Anna-Lise Brink While oceans separate most families when a loved one deploys overseas, one Brisbane father and daughter

A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules delivers supplies for coalition troops based at Iraq’s Camp Taji. Photo by Corporal Anita Gill.

Middle East New Zealand News Operations Videos

Kiwis clock Middle East air-support milestone

13/08/201813/08/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3212 Views 0 Comments New Zealand Defence Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force

The New Zealand Defence Force’s air transport team has flown about 200 tonnes of supplies and 1000 troops across the

A Royal Australian Air Force air refuelling officer on the flight deck of a KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport controls refuelling operations for a Dassault Rafale M from the French during an Operation Okra mission over the Middle East. Photo by Corporal David Cotton.

Australian Middle East News Operations Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology

KC-30A offloads 100,000,000th pound of fuel

11/08/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3299 Views 0 Comments KC-30A MRTT

RAAF’s KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport recently delivered its 100,000,000th – yes, that’s 100millionth – pound of fuel during air-to-air

Commander Task Group Taji-7, Australian Army Colonel Michael Say briefs Minister for Defence Personnel Darren Chester at the Taji Military Complex in Iraq. Photo by US Army Specialist Audrey Ward.

ADF Australian Middle East News Operations

Minister visits troops in Middle East

09/08/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2990 Views 0 Comments

Minister for Defence Personnel Darren Chester thanked Australian Defence Force men and women in the Middle East for their ongoing