A report that New Zealand special forces are acting in combat roles in Iraq is wrong, the Defence Minister says.
Troops returning from Iraq are welcomed by Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee. Photo: Pool / Warwick Smith / Fairfax NZ
The Guardian had reported that the New Zealand SAS was active in northern Iraq along with British, Australian and US forces, which it said had been "calling in airstrikes to support both Kurdish and Iraqi advances".
But Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said it would be incorrect to say the SAS was calling in airstrikes, or was involved in any other combat operations in Iraq.
He said the government had ruled out sending the SAS or any troops into combat roles in Iraq.
In June, the government said up to 143 New Zealand defence personnel would be based at Camp Taji to train Iraqi Security Forces in the fight against Islamic State until November 2018.
About 7000 Iraqi Security Force personnel have been trained by the Australia-New Zealand mission at Taji, including about 975 officers who have graduated from four junior leadership courses.