House of Representatives Committees

Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
Committee activities (inquiries and reports)

Visit to Australian Defence Forces Deployed to Support the Rehabilitation of Iraq

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Chapter 5 Visit to the Al Muthanna Task Group

Background
Current Operations
The Al Muthanna Task Group
Equipment
Conduct of the Visit
Observations

Background

5.1

With the withdrawal of the Army Special Forces Task Group (SFTG) from western Iraq in 2003 Australia ceased contributing directly to the security situation on the ground in Iraq. Australia’s military contribution within Iraq comprised the highly valued Australian Army Training Teams – Iraq (AATTI), a number of embedded military staff working with coalition Headquarters and a small group protecting Australia’s diplomatic and military staff in Baghdad.

5.2 In February 2005 the Prime Minister announced that the Australian Government had agreed to a request from the British and Japanese Governments to assist with the provision of a secure environment for Japanese reconstruction work in the southern Iraq province of Al Muthanna . In response to the Government direction the ADF created the Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG), an Army combined arms battlegroup based on units from the Army’s high readiness 1 st Brigade and also comprising an additional AATTI.1 5.3 The Al Muthanna province is part of the British area of operations and had previously been secured by the Dutch. Al Muthanna is a very large but relatively poor rural province, mainly populated by the Shiite community. The regional capital, As Samawah, is a city of approximately 250,000 people. The province has been one of the more stable locations in Iraq but the security situation remains stable but unpredictable as locals remain frustrated with the slow pace of reconstruction.  

Current Operations

The Al Muthanna Task Group

5.4

The AMTG deployed to Iraq in April / May 2005. It is made up of 450 personnel, approximately 400 of whom are involved in security operations with the remaining 50 personnel training the new Iraqi Army. The Task Group outline structure is as follows:

5.5

The AATTI follows on from successful training team contributions in northern Iraq, northern Baghdad and in the initial teams which raised the first two Iraqi Army battalions in Kirkush to the east of Baghdad. There methods and lineage can be followed further back to the Australian Army Training Team – Vietnam. The AATTI is broadly structured as follows:

 

Equipment

5.6

The AMTG conducts operations with the following major equipment types:

Figure 5.1 CO Australian Army Training Team Iraq, LTCOL Steve Tulley, briefs Senator David Johnston at Camp Smitty southern Iraq

 

Conduct of the Visit

5.7

The delegation visit to the AMTG was conducted as follows:

Figure 5.2 Mr Barry Haase MP and the Hon Bruce Scott MP are briefed on the equipment used by the AMTG at Camp Smitty in southern Iraq

Figure 5.2 Mr Barry Haase MP and the Hon Bruce Scott MP are briefed on the equipment used by the AMTG at Camp Smitty in southern Iraq  

Observations

5.8

The delegation made the following observations during its stay with the AMTG:

Figure 5.3 Lieutenant Colonel Roger Noble , Commanding Officer of the AMTG, and community leader Sheikh Abdullah Aziz (centre) discuss the benefits of the community centre at As Salman, a “Red Kangaroo” project

Figure 5.3 Lieutenant Colonel Roger Noble , Commanding Officer of the AMTG, and community leader Sheikh Abdullah Aziz (centre) discuss the benefits of the community centre at As Salman, a “Red Kangaroo” project

 

Figure 5.4 The delegation meets with the Governor of Al Muthanna province, Mr Mohammed al Hassani

Figure 5.4 The delegation meets with the Governor of Al Muthanna province, Mr Mohammed al Hassani

Footnotes

1 Prime Minister’s Press Conference, Deployment of Australian Task Force to Iraq – Cabinet Meeting, dated 22 Feb 05, as quoted at http://www.pm.gov.au/news/interviews/Interview1251.html Back

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