With Iraqi forces set to begin the battle to retake Mosul from the Islamic State group, the country's prime minister has welcomed Australia's support for what comes after.
In a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations leaders gathering in New York, Dr Haider Al-Abadi thanked Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for Australia's military support.
That includes the Australian and New Zealand Task Group training Iraqi soldiers whose remit will soon extend to training Iraqi police in the skills needed to retain control of towns liberated from IS.
Dr Al-Abadi said training of law enforcement was of vital importance to Iraq, especially after liberation of IS-held areas.
Mr Turnbull congratulated Dr Al-Abadi on recent successes in retaking territory from IS.
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In their talks, Mr Turnbull discussed the security situation in Iraq, challenges to finding a political solution in Syria and ongoing global instability caused by the refugee crisis.
Dr Al-Abadi expressed concerns about the Syrian ceasefire and its importance to achieving stability across the region.
He urged all stakeholders, including the US, Russia and Turkey, to work together as tension and instability only benefited IS and other terrorist groups.
