Canberra, Sep 14 (IANS): The Australian government Sunday decided to send military forces to the Middle East as part of the international efforts to combat the Islamic State (IS) militants.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said that Australia had received a specific request from the US government to contribute forces to a possible military action in Iraq, Brisbane Times reported.
Australia will send around 600 military personnel, eight Super Hornet aircraft, an early warning and control aircraft, aerial refuelling aircraft and a Special Forces contingent.
Prime Minister Abbott said the deployment did not mean Australia was at war.