UAE: Australia sends military aircraft and personnel

Australia is to send military aircraft and 600 personnel to the UAE as part of the international coalition to counter the threat from the Islamic State. Prime Minister Tony Abbott told a news conference in Darwin on 14 September that the Australian defence force would send up to eight Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 combat aircraft, an E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft and a KC-30A multi-role tanker and transport aircraft. A special operations task group would also be sent to assist Iraqi and other security forces “that are taking the fight to the ISIL terrorists”.