News Bites

70 NZ soldiers return home from training Iraqi security forces

19:42 pm on 26 May 2016

About 70 New Zealand soldiers who went to the Middle East to help train Iraqi security forces have returned home.

The soldiers formed part of a second rotation deployed to the country last November, and their return follows that of 37 Defence Force personnel last week.

The Defence Force says the soldiers helped train the Iraqi military as they step up operations against Islamic State.

They were welcomed back at the Air Force's Ohakea base this evening.