Australia's Middle East forces commander says the military is preparing to deploy soldiers to conduct operations against Islamic State militants in Iraq "in the next couple of weeks".
IS fighters are being confronted by Iraqi and Kurdish security forces supported by the US, but remain a significant threat, Major General Craig Orme told AAP in United Arab Emirates.
The first of some 600 Australian personnel have arrived at the Australian outpost on the Al-Minhad Air Base.
The remainder, including up to eight RAAF Super Hornets, a Wedgetail early warning aircraft and a KC-30A refuelling aircraft are due to arrive within the next two weeks.
Major General Orme offered no fresh information on when operations will start or how they would be conducted.
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"In the next couple of weeks, as the prime minister has indicated, we are looking to deploy forces ... to prepare to conduct operations," he said on Thursday.
"I won't go into the operational detail of how we will do it.
"But we can conduct operations from a range of locations, and we have the ability to conduct operations from here."
The Wedgetail and KC-30A aircraft can operate from the UAE, which is more than 1000 kilometres from Iraq.
But for extended combat operations the Super Hornets would need to be closer, raising the prospect the aircraft could operate with US and other coalition planes from bases inside Iraq.
It's anticipated a 200-member ground force, including special forces, will deploy into Iraq.
The Australian government has ruled out any combat role for these soldiers, but they will be well equipped in their mission to advise Iraqi and Kurdish security forces and accompany them in taking the fight to the IS jihadists.
"I suspect that our contribution will be both valued, will make a difference, and that we will be operating in Iraq in support of the Iraqi people," Major General Orme said.
