The Australian government may deploy 400 additional troops to Iraq to help train Iraqi forces. The additional Australian troops will continue to remain "behind the wire" on bases where the main danger could come from insider attacks.

Fairmax Media has been told that the Abbott government is considering the deployment of troops for a more traditional training mission for a longer term following the request of the United States to supplement its troops. The request was made after 200 special forces from Australia were on their way to Baghdad. As reported by SMH, the rest of the troops are expected to follow.

According to reports, the Australian military forces will be initially based in and around the capital city of Iraq. The reinforcements would likely be between 200 and 400 though the Australian government has yet to reach its final decision. The troops are expected to be taken from a conventional army rather than special forces. However, they would face less risk compared to the existing 200 troops taking on advisory roles who may soon be working on the battlefield.

U.S. President Barack told media after his meeting with Prime Minister Tony Abbott, that the next phase in the mission in Iraq is to assist government forces so they can develop an offence. Despite Australia's consideration of sending more troops, Iraqi Ambassador Mouayed Saleh told Sky News that his government did not need further help from the military, but Baghdad would ask if it required assistance.

James Brown, a former Army officer and current military fellow at Lowy Institute, said the Abbott government would need to come up with a better explanation of the role of the Australian Defence Force. He noted that Australia was the only country whose troops are in the battalion level headquarters. Brown said that U.S. troops are advising Iraqi forces in the brigade level. He urged Mr Abbott to explain why Australian troops are taking more risk than other countries.

Meanwhile, in an effort to stop coalition forces, reports of terrorist groups brokering a merger have surfaced. According to the Daily Beast, a secret meeting in Syria was allegedly arranged by the Khorasan group. The veteran group is among the targets of U.S. airstrikes.

The Khorasan group is reportedly seeking a new alliance with ISIS and Jabhat al Nusra, which is the official branch of Al Qaeda in Syria. If the merger is successful, it would have major implications in the efforts of Western countries to fight ISIS.