Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made a secret pre-Christmas visit to hundreds of Australian troops deployed in the Middle East.
Mr Morrison travelled to Iraq on Wednesday to meet special forces soldiers and other Australian Defence Force personnel training the Iraqi Army to combat Islamic State.
"I understand it's a sacrifice - I understand it's a big thing to be away from your family at this time of year - and that's why I've decided to come just to say thank you from one Australian to another," he told troops at the Taji Military Complex north of a Baghdad.
It was the Liberal prime minister's first visit to the Middle East after taking on the top job in August.
A planned visit to Afghanistan was cancelled due to operational security reasons, on advice from the Chief of the Australian Defence Force.
