Rocket attack near Kiwi soldiers in Iraq

A New Zealand Defence Force trainer instructs ISF soldiers in correct weapons firing positions in...
A New Zealand Defence Force trainer instructs ISF soldiers in correct weapons firing positions in Taji, Iraq. Photo: File/NZME
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed reports of rocket attacks in the vicinity of Camp Taji in Iraq.

This is the camp where New Zealand troops are stationed.

"I'm told that none have come over and into the perimeter of the camp and therefore there have been no New Zealand casualties."

Ardern said she has also been advised that, from time to time, there are rocket strikes in the vicinity of Camp Taji.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed reports of rocket attacks in the vicinity of Camp Taji in Iraq.

This is the camp where New Zealand troops are stationed.

"I'm told that none have come over and into the perimeter of the camp and therefore there have been no New Zealand casualties."

Ardern said she has also been advised that, from time to time, there are rocket strikes in the vicinity of Camp Taji.

Last week the Government revealed plans to pull Kiwi troops out of Iraq by June 2020.

The deployment at Camp Taji will scale down to 75 troops from July and to 45 troops in January before the mission ends in June.

Up to 95 Kiwi troops have been stationed at Camp Taji since February 2015, training Iraqi Security Forces as part of the Building Partner Capacity mission.

Ardern said the latest attack would have no impact on the withdrawal plan "at this stage".

"Obviously our focus is on drawing down that deployment. We are working on reducing the number of New Zealanders that are there, with the view of full withdrawal by June next year."

Comments

Exactly what are NZers doing in Iraq, peacekeeping? Peacekeepers, in my humble opinion achieve nothing and are just targets. History bears this out.