Australia to Send 30 More Troops to Afghanistan

Australia will commit an extra 30 military personnel to Afghanistan, taking its deployment to 300 Australian Defence Force personnel. Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne announced the troop boost to politicians today at a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra. “These additional ADF members will allow Australia to commit additional advisers to further develop the long-term capabilities of the Afghan security forces as part of our current train, advise and assist mission,” she said. Meanwhile a former head of the Australian Army, and the head of the University of Canberra’s National Security Institute, Peter Leahy, predicted the troops would build on the Coalition’s air superiority in the region.The Australian commitment to Afghanistan is known as Operation Highroad, which replaced combat operations in 2014. Australian media reported that since Australian troops were first sent to Afghanistan in 2001, 42 personnel have died.