Mr Abbott announced the deployment of combat aircraft and special forces advisers to the United Arab Emirates over the weekend, with departure expected by the end of the week.
Speaking to ABC television on the deployment of 600 personnel, Mr Abbott refused to put a timeframe of the engagement.
“This is not the task of weeks or even necessarily just a few months,” he said.
“But this is not Australia on its own. The United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Jordan, the UAE and Bahrain have all committed to military action.”
‘This is not the task of weeks or even necessarily just a few months’
When pressed on a measurable objective, Mr Abbott said troops would need to ensure local government could maintain control on the ground.
“If the Iraqi Government [is] able to maintain reasonable control over their substantial towns, if they’re able to provide reasonable protection to their own people, that will be a success,” he said.
He described the mission as “essentially humanitarian”, adding that engagement in Syria was “not an intention” of the Australian Government at present.
Mr Abbott has said the deployment doesn't mean Australia is going to war in Iraq, with a decision yet to be taken to commit to combat operations against IS militants
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