Inter Press ServiceIRAQ: Australian forces in combat operations https://www.ipsnews.net/2003/03/iraq-australian-forces-in-combat-operations/ News and Views from the Global South Sat, 14 Nov 2026 13:52:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5 IRAQ: Australian forces in combat operations https://www.ipsnews.net/2003/03/iraq-australian-forces-in-combat-operations/ https://www.ipsnews.net/2003/03/iraq-australian-forces-in-combat-operations/#respond Thu, 20 Mar 2003 10:39:00 +0000 IPS Correspondents http://ipsnews.net/?p=4278

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Qatar News Agency (QNA)

By IPS Correspondents
CANBERRA, Mar 20 2003 (IPS)

Australian forces have begun combat operations in the war against Iraq, Prime Minister John Howard said on ‘Today’.

"Our forces have started combat and combat support operations," Howard told a news conference.

"The F/A-18 Hornet aircraft have started operations over Iraq. They are conducting missions to escort high-value coalition tanker and airborne early-warning and control aircraft."

"Various Australian naval vessels continue their multinational interdiction and enforcement activities and also support combat operations," Howard said.

Australia has committed a 2,000-strong force to the war against Iraq, despite opinion polls showing most Australians oppose their country’s involvement in the conflict without UN backing.

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Att.Editors: The following item is from the Qatar News Agency (QNA)]]> https://www.ipsnews.net/2003/03/iraq-australian-forces-in-combat-operations/feed/ 0