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Australia Agrees to Send 30 Troops to Bolster Afghan Army

The Australian government confirmed on Monday, May 29, that 30 troops would be sent to train and mentor the Afghan army. Defence Minister Marise Payne explained the decision in a Senate estimate hearing in Canberra.

The additional troops will be sent following a request from NATO.

“Last Friday in Egypt 29 people including many child were attacked and killed while riding a bus to a monastery, while in Manchester earlier in the week we saw the cowardly and sinister terrorist act that targeted children and young adults attending a music concert,” Payne said. “These attacks, claimed by ISIS in the name of their perverted extremist Islamist ideology, on the most vulnerable and innocent demonstrates yet again that we must remain unwavering in our support of the global fight against terrorism.”

In a joint statement, Payne and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Afghanistan was facing a “challenging security environment, and this extra support from Australia will help deny terrorists the safe havens that threaten the international community.”

“These additional advisers will provide crucial extra support and expertise to the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces,” she said.