Operation Okra

Operation Okra
Part of the American-led intervention in Iraq (2014–present), Military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and the Global War on Terrorism
300px Two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft conduct air-to-air refuelling with a RAAF KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft by night over the skies of Iraq
Location	Iraq and Syria
Commanded by	Rear Admiral Trevor Jones
Objective	Australia's contribution to the War against ISIL
Date	31 August 2014 – present ()
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 (ISIL). The operation commenced on 31 August 2014, and its initial stated aim was to combat ISIL threats in Iraq. In September 2015, the Australian airstrikes were extended to Syria.

The force is part of Joint Task Force 633 in the Middle East, originally under the command of Major General Craig Orme. Orme handed over command of JTF 633 to Rear Admiral Trevor Jones in December 2014.

Development of the Australian contribution

Airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq

The Australian government announced on 14 September 2014 that an Air Task Group (ATG) of up to eight F/A-18F Super Hornets, an E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft, and a KC-30A air-to-air refuelling tanker, along with a Special Operations Task Force, would be deployed to the Middle East in preparation for possible operations against ISIL forces. The ATG commenced operations on 1 October, and on 3 October, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that his country would commence airstrikes. Australian forces operate from Al Minhad Air Base located in the United Arab Emirates. Australian aircraft have also been reported to have been operated out of Al Dhafra Air Base south of Abu Dhabi. An Australian Army training team known as Task Group Taji was deployed to Iraq in April 2015 to assist with training the regular Iraqi Security Forces.

Extension with airstrikes against ISIL in Syria

Airstrikes were extended to Syria in September 2015.

In late 2015 the United States Government asked the Australian Government, along with other members of the coalition, to expand its military commitment to the war. The Australian Government rejected this request in January 2016, but stated that it would increase the number of Australian personnel attached to the coalition headquarters from 20 to 30 and was considering increasing the amount of humanitarian aid it provides to people affected by the war in Iraq and Syria.

Air force component

Humanitarian air drops and munition and arms resupply

From August 2014 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. On the night of 13/14 August an RAAF C-130J was part of a 16-aircraft mission including US C-17s and C-130Hs and a British C-130J which delivered supplies to Yezidi civilians trapped on Mount Sinjar. A second drop was later conducted to deliver supplies to isolated civilians in the northern Iraqi town of Amirli. Later, a C-130J was involved in the airlift arms and munitions to forces in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq in late-September.

Air Task Group (ATG)

File:An Australian F-18 fighter flies over Iraq on 22 December 2015.jpg

An Australian F/A-18 Hornet over Iraq in December 2015

Further information: Military intervention against ISIL order of battle

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. The initial commitment of aircraft included: 6 x F/A-18F Super Hornet strike aircraft from No. 1 Squadron RAAF, 1 x E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft from No. 2 Squadron RAAF and 1 x KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport from No. 33 Squadron RAAF The ATG began operations on 1 October 2014.

Between 6 and 17 October, Australian aircraft flew 54 sorties. In at least two of them, a number of ISIL fighters were killed. Australian planes attacked ISIL military equipment and facilities in support of Iraqi and Kurdish troops on the ground. Vice Admiral David Johnston refused to give more details on the number of casualties or locations of airstrikes due to the "aggressive propaganda campaign" of ISIL. In late December 2014 Australian Super Hornets were involved in assisting Kurdish ground forces free Yezidi people trapped on Mount Sinjar along with other coalition aircraft.

A second ATG arrived in the UAE in early January 2015 to replace the first group of personnel and operate the aircraft originally deployed in September 2014. Providing an operational update on 12 January 2015, the Chief of Joint Operations, Admiral David Johnston, stated that Australian aircraft provide around 13 percent of coalition airstrikes in Iraq.

Six single-seat F/A-18As from No. 75 Squadron RAAF based at Tindal deployed to the Middle East to replace the six dual-seat F/A-18Fs in March 2015. On 30 June 2015 the Department of Defence reported that the ATG had dropped more the 400 weapons in support of Iraqi forces since the commencement of operations with the F/A-18A Hornets and F/A-18F Super Hornets flying nearly 5000 hours, the E-7A Wedgetail completing 100 operational sorties, and the KC‑30A air-to-air refuelling aircraft providing 25 million pounds of fuel to Australian and coalition aircraft. By the end of November 2015 the F/A-18A Hornets had conducted 580 sorties over Iraq, during which they dropped 363 munitions. The aircraft also flew 18 sorties over Syria in September 2015, dropping two munitions.

Rotations from No. 77 Squadron RAAF took over the deployment in September 2015, and were in turn replaced by No. 3 Squadron RAAF in April 2016.

Exchange personnel

In August 2015, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that five RAAF exchange personnel embedded with the USAF 432d Operations Group had begun flying General Atomics MQ-9 Reapers over Syria.

Army component

File:An Australian trainer with Task Group Taji, observes Iraqi soldiers as they fire their M16 rifles during aperture range training.jpg

An Australian soldier assigned to Task Group Taji observing Iraqi soldiers during marksmanship training in April 2016

Special Operations Task Group (SOTG)

In September 2014, the Australian Army deployed a Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) of approximately 200 personnel to the United Arab Emirates in preparation for operations to advise and assist Iraqi Security Forces. The soldiers were expected to be deployed to Iraq when a legal framework covering their presence in the country was agreed between the Australian and Iraqi Governments. The majority of the initial rotation of the SOTG was made up of Charlie Company, 2nd Commando Regiment. The SOTG began moving into Iraq in early November. As the Iraqi Government would not agree to sign a status of forces agreement to prevent the soldiers from being prosecuted, they entered the country using diplomatic passports instead. Iraq has agreed to grant the soldiers immunity from local laws under this arrangement, though they will be prosecuted in Australia in the event of any misconduct.

The role of the SOTG is to provide training to Iraq's Counter-Terrorism Service, and personnel were stationed at the service's Counter-Terrorism Academy and Counter-Terrorism Training unit in January 2015. The Counter-Terrorism Service includes two brigades of the Iraqi Special Operations Forces, which fought well against ISIS during 2014 at the cost of heavy casualties. However, members of the service have also been accused of killing prisoners and committing human rights violations. SOTG personnel are required to report any human rights violations they become aware of.

It was reported in October 2015 that the size of the SOTG had been reduced to approximately 80 personnel following a recent rotation.

The Australian Government has authorised SOTG personnel to advise Iraqi Army units of battalion size and larger in the field, but as of November 2015 the Iraqi Government had not agreed to such deployments. However, members of the Task Group stationed in Iraqi bases provide advice to Iraqi units which are deployed on operations through remote means. SOTG personnel also direct air strikes to support Iraqi units remotely; during the Battle of Ramadi they directed over 150 air strikes while advising the Iraqi 1st Special Operations Brigade.

Task Group Taji

In April 2015, a 300-strong unit known as Task Group Taji was deployed to Iraq as part of the coalition Building Partner Capacity mission. The task group consists of a training team with command, force protection and support elements, and is tasked with training the regular Iraqi Security Forces. A New Zealand force element of approximately another 100 personnel is integrated into the unit, forming a combined task group. The second rotation of Task Group Taji departed Australia in November 2015. The unit's departure was delayed due to problems gaining visas for the soldiers, and this caused the initial rotation's tour of duty to be extended by two weeks. The third rotation arrived in Iraq during May 2016.

See also

• List of military operations involving Australia
• 2014 American-led intervention in Iraq
• Opération Chammal – French operation against ISIL
• Operation Shader – UK operation against ISIL
• Operation Impact – Canadian operation against ISIL
• Operation Inherent Resolve – US operation against ISIL
• Operation Martyr Yalçın – Turkish operation against ISIL

External links

• Operation Okra, www.defence.gov.au – Sub-pages include:
  • Media releases;
  • Imagery; and
  • Videos