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Troops march at Garden Island during the International Fleet Review (IFR) in Sydney October 5, 2013. The review is being held to commemorate the centenary of the first entry of the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet into Sydney Harbour. REUTERS/Steve Christo REUTERS/Steve Christo

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott wants to send additional troops to Iraq to train the latter’s forces in fight against the ISIS. This comes a day after New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced the deployment of 143 Kiwi troops to the battle-riddled country. Mr Abbott said he will first consult his cabinet as well as the opposition groups before finalising any plan.

In Canberra, Mr Abbott said on Thursday that countries like Australia should “offer every possible assistance” to Iraqi forces, which will help them in confronting the terror group and liberating the country from the radicals. He admitted that the idea of sending a further training mission to Iraq had already been broached between Australia and its principal allies, including the U.K.

However, the Prime Minister also stressed upon the fact that the troops would be sent to Iraq as trainers to the local forces. Mr Abbott maintained that Iraq can only be regained by its own people. “We can’t regain Iraq for the Iraqis. The Iraqis have to regain their country.” Reports said Australia has intended to deploy at least 300 extra troops to the terrorist-stricken country in the Middle East. A report by The Australian had described the additional troops as part of the regular army, though they would be considered non-combat troops. They will be sent to replace the 200 commandos currently training the Iraqi army.

A report by the Daily Telegraph revealed that the additional Australian specialist soldiers will not only help the Iraqi forces aim guns and throw grenades, but also train them to build training camps for their own forces, besides teaching them to disrupt the oil production facilities -- a source of funds for ISIS.

Mr Abbott is expected to issue a concrete statement regarding the deployment of new troops after his meeting with Mr Key.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop called upon the families and the educational institutions in Australia to help stop the ISIS charm that is spreading rapidly in Australia. She disclosed that an alarming number of young females from Australia have left the country to join and fight for ISIS.

Currently 40 females, Bishop said these women were either joining their foreign fighter husbands or seeking to find partners, the so-called 'rebellious' brides, or were providing support for terrorist organisations. Unfortunately, they end up being used as sexual slaves, or worst, as suicide bombers. Bishop said the ISIS’ population of foreign fighters is consist one-fifth of female rebels, or more than 500 western females.

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