The Australian defence force has been praised for its “vital” role in retaking the Iraqi city of Ramadi from Islamic State.

Vice admiral David Johnston, head of defence joint operations, said the special operation task group provided remote support, advising and assisting Iraqi forces.

The group enabled more than 150 airstrikes, destroying about 50 Isis fighting positions, 16 heavy machine guns and numerous vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, he said in a statement on Thursday.



The city, humiliatingly lost to Isis by the Iraqi government in May, was largely won back in the past week with the help of 600 airstrikes from the US-led coalition. The fighting has left much of the town in ruins, partly thanks to Isis booby-trapping buildings with explosives as they retreated.

Johnston said it was “deeply satisfying” to see how the task group had supported Iraqi forces.

Other Australian units also contributed to the Ramadi operation, he said.

“The F/A-18A Hornets from the air task group were vital in striking Daesh [Isis] fighting positions that were hampering the Iraqi counter-terrorism services to advance through Ramadi,” Johnston said.

“Air task group Hornets conducted two missions on 22 and 29 December where five and two munitions were released respectively.

“As a direct result of at least one attack, the Daesh fighters were silenced and the Iraqi counter-terrorism services were able to continue with their clearance of central Ramadi.”



