NZ trained Iraqi troops part of Ramadi fight

Iraqi Security forces enter the heavy damaged downtown Ramadi. Photo / AP

Iraqi troops trained by the New Zealand Defence Force were part of a force that has retaken the city of Ramadi from the Islamic State (Isis) terrorist group.

Defence minister Gerry Brownlee said the success was a result of the commitment to the Building Partner Capacity training programme.

"New Zealand and Australian trainers can take some pride over the successful action by the recruits.

"NZDF trainers have gone into a dangerous environment and professionally established a training operation which is upskilling large numbers of Iraqi troops to better equip themselves to fight.

"New Zealanders can be very proud of the work our troops are doing to professionalise the Iraqi security forces," Mr Brownlee said in a statement.

New Zealand currently has 143 personnel deployed in Iraq to support a two-year training mission in Camp Taji, just north of Baghdad, in tandem with the Australian Defence Force.

The purpose of the mission is to train Iraqi Security Forces to be able to conduct combat operations at a trained level, according to the Defence Force's website.

The mission also aims to train local forces to reach a state where they are considered a self-sustaining capability for the Iraqi Government.

"Training of the ISF at the Taji Military Complex covers a broad range of individual and organisational military skills, including basic weapons skills, individual and unit military skills to prepare for combat operations, as well as other skills like medical support and logistics."