Operation Okra

Operation Okra is the Australian Defence Force (ADF) contribution to the Military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The operation commenced on 31 August 2014, and its stated aim is to combat ISIL threats in Iraq. The force is part of Joint Task Force 633 in the Middle East, originally under the command of Major General Craig Orme. Orme handed over command of JTF 633 to Rear Admiral Trevor Jones in December 2014.

Aircraft
In late September 2014, an Air Task Group (ATG) of 400 personnel from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was deployed to Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates as part of the coalition to combat Islamic State forces in Iraq. Aircraft include:

Offensive aircraft:
 * 6 x F/A-18F Super Hornet from No. 1 Squadron RAAF

Support:
 * 1 x E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft from No. 2 Squadron RAAF
 * 1 x KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport from No. 33 Squadron RAAF

The ATG began operations on 1 October.

A number of C-17 and C-130J transport aircraft based in the Middle East have also been used to conduct airdrops of humanitarian aid and to airlift arms and munitions since August.

A second ATG arrived in the UAE in early January 2015 to replace the first group of personnel and operate the aircraft originally deployed in September.

Providing an operational update on 12 January 2015, the Chief of Joint Operations, Admiral David Johnston, stated that Australian aircraft provide around 13 percent of coalition airstrikes in Iraq.

Army contribution
In September 2014, the Australian Army deployed a Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) of approximately 200 personnel to the United Arab Emirates in preparation for operations to advise and assist Iraqi Security Forces. The soldiers were expected to be deployed to Iraq when a legal framework covering their presence in the country is agreed between the Australian and Iraqi Governments. The majority of the SOTG is made up of Charlie Company, 2nd Commando Regiment. Charlie Company is one of the most highly trained units in the Australian Army, being able to be rapidly deployed into any combat zone. Some of the members of Charlie Company are counter-terrorism specialists. The SOTG began moving into Iraq in early November. As the Iraqi Government would not agree to sign a status of forces agreement to prevent the soldiers from being prosecuted, they entered the country using diplomatic passports instead. Iraq has agreed to grant the soldiers immunity from local laws under this arrangement, though they will be prosecuted in Australia in the event of any misconduct.

The role of the SOTG is to provide training to Iraq's Counter-Terrorism Service, and personnel were stationed at the service's Counter-Terrorism Academy and Counter-Terrorism Training unit in January 2015. The Counter-Terrorism Service includes two brigades of the Iraqi Special Operations Forces, which fought well against ISIS during 2014 at the cost of heavy casualties. However, members of the service have also been accused of killing prisoners and committing human rights violations. SOTG personnel are required to report any human rights violations they become aware of.