Iraq – CONTACT magazine

General Qais Khalaf Rahima (Staff), Deputy Commander of Joint Operations, Iraqi Armed Forces in Baghdad, and Australia's Deputy Chief of Joint Operations, Major General Hugh McAslan, at the cessation of Operation Steadfast. Story by Captain Karam Louli. Photos by Sergeant Andrew Sleeman.

ADF wraps up Iraq operation

18/12/202520/12/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 517 Views 0 Comments Iraq, Operation Steadfast

Australia has officially concluded Operation Steadfast, marking the final chapter in more than two decades of Australian Defence Force involvement

Comedian Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann is awarded the Australian Operational Service Medal (Civilian) by Deputy Theatre Commander Major General Paul Kenny in recognition 20 years of support to deployed troops. Story and photo by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Combat comic ‘Lehmo’ honoured

12/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 5329 Views 3 Comments Afghanistan, Forces Entertainment Tour, Iraq, Middle East

Comedian Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann has been awarded the Australian Operational Service Medal (Civilian) in recognition of his two decades of

Stand-up comedian Anthony 'Lehmo' Lehmann performs at Camp Baird Headquarters in the Middle East for deployed ADF personnel during the Forces Entertainment Tour. Story and photo: byLeading Seaman Nadav Harel.

Australian Army Middle East News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Comedian’s admiration for troops is no joke

04/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2414 Views 0 Comments Forces Entertainment Tour, Iraq

Route Irish, a 12-kilometre stretch of highway in Baghdad, Iraq, was once considered the most dangerous road in the world.

ADF Middle East News

Operation Okra in Iraq officially ends

29/12/202429/12/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 8077 Views 0 Comments Iraq, Operation Okra

Operation Okra, the Australian Defence Force’s contribution to the international coalition against Daesh in Iraq and Syria, has concluded with

Chief Petty Officer Gavin Stevens has received a Medal of Gallantry for helping to defuse a 200kg bomb in Iraq in 2003. Story by Lieutenant Madelyn Hanna. Photo by Leading Seaman Abdus Chowdhury.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

Bravery on the battlefield commended – Anzac Day

10/05/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2078 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Iraq

This Anzac Day was memorable for Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Gavin Stevens, who marched donning his Medal for Gallantry for

Members from the 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR), march on parade as part of the 7RAR Iraq Theatre Honour Parade, on the Torrens Parade Ground, Adelaide. Story by Captain Adrienne Goode. Photos by Private Johnny Huang.

Australian Army News

7RAR awarded Iraq theatre honour

19/10/202321/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3000 Views 0 Comments 7th Battalion RAR, Afghanistan, Iraq

7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR) was honoured for the unit’s achievements in Iraq during a formal parade at

Squadron Leader Peter O’Connell in Baghdad, where he was part of the first Coalition rotation to the city’s airport air traffic control tower. Story by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

ADF People

Tall and proud in the control tower

18/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1762 Views 0 Comments air traffic control, Iraq

Air Traffic Controllers often have to deal with the unexpected. This is especially true in war zones. CAPTION: Squadron Leader Peter

Australian Army surgeon Major Daniel Chan is part of the Australian Surgical Team deployed to the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Centre in Iraq. Story by Flight Lieutenant Clarice Hurren. Photo by Sergeant Glen McCarthy.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Sharing is the currency of deployment

05/11/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2257 Views 0 Comments Iraq, Operation Okra

An Australian Army general surgeon has swapped more than knowledge and experiences with his foreign counterparts during a deployment to

Air Force perioperative nurse Flying Officer Cheryl Brophy is deployed to Iraq and is working at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Centre. Story by Flight Lieutenant Clarice Hurren. Photo by Sergeant Glen McCarthy.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

COVID support part of deployment

02/11/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2104 Views 0 Comments COVID-19, Iraq, Operation Okra

As part of her deployment to Iraq, RAAF nursing officer Flying Officer Cheryl Brophy is providing COVID-19 support to contractors

Navy neurosurgeon Lieutenant Commander Andrew Davidson is deployed to Iraq at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Centre. Story by Flight Lieutenant Clarice Hurren. Photo by Sergeant Glen McCarthy.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Navy surgeon enjoying time in the sand

31/10/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2708 Views 0 Comments Iraq, Operation Okra

A deployment to Iraq is providing Navy neurosurgeon Lieutenant Commander Andrew Davidson with some unique challenges. CAPTION: Navy neurosurgeon Lieutenant

Navy medical officer Lieutenant Commander Lin Hu is an anaesthetist with the Australian Surgical Team at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Centre in Iraq. Story by Flight Lieutenant Clarice Hurren. Photo by Sergeant Glen McCarthy.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Team an anaesthesia to challenges

26/10/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2134 Views 0 Comments Iraq

Navy medical officer Lieutenant Commander Lin Hu is currently deployed with his triservice colleagues to the only role 3 hospital

Iraqi Army Rangers practice firing at extended ranges with a Dragunov sniper rifle under the guidance of Australian and New Zealand Defence Force trainers from Task Group Taji 4 at Taji Military Complex, Iraq. Photo by Corporal Kyle Genner.

Australian Australian Army New Zealand News Operations

ANZACs train Iraq Special Forces trainers

05/06/201705/06/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5557 Views 0 Comments Iraq, Special Forces’ Rangers, Task Group Taji

Task Group Taji 4 is helping the Iraqi Army to build its Special Forces’ Rangers capability by offering bespoke ‘train-the-trainer’

Australian Army soldier Corporal Levi Stripp is serving with Task Group Taji 4 at Taji Military Complex, Iraq, seen here with a Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle - Ambulance. Photo by Corporal Kyle Jenner.

Australian Australian Army News Videos

Army Medic on deployment on World Health Day

15/04/201720/04/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 10188 Views 0 Comments Iraq, Task Group Taji

Australian Army medic Levi Stripp is deployed on Operation Okra in Iraq to deliver life-saving medical training to Iraqi Security

Australian News Operations Royal Australian Air Force Videos

RAAF bomb-drop footage from Mosul

30/03/201730/03/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 7410 Views 0 Comments Air Task Group, Iraq, Mosul

Defence has released footage of RAAF F/A-18A bomb strikes in Mosul, accompanied by detailed and careful legal explanations/justifications. This video

Personnel from the building partner capacity mission in Iraq return to Ohakea Air Force Base.

New Zealand News Operations Overseas

Second Kiwi Iraq rotation welcomed home

26/05/2016 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5334 Views 0 Comments Iraq

About 70 New Zealand Defence Force soldiers deployed to help train Iraqi Security Forces returned home just a few hours

ADF Australian News Operations

PM and CDF visit Australian troops in Iraq

17/01/201620/01/2016 Posted by Brian Hartigan 6936 Views 1 Comment Iraq, Okra, Turnbull

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Chief of Defence Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin visited Australian troops in Iraq on 16

Australian News Operations

Aussies adopt radical disguises to protect ID on ops

07/01/201610/01/2016 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5522 Views 0 Comments Accordion, Afghanistan, Highroad, Iraq, Manitou, Okra

Australians serving overseas are adopting radical but effective disguises to protect their identities while on operations, especially when bastard photographers