Latest FromIraq
![$20 trillion spent on conflicts in year](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
$20 trillion spent on conflicts in year
The spending represents 13 per cent of global GDP and is roughly the combined value of the economies of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Spain and Brazil.
![PM rules out extending NZ's Iraq training](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
PM rules out extending NZ's Iraq training
Prime Minister John Key has ruled out any extension to New Zealand’s training mission to Iraq in duration or numbers.
![Troop move highlights US dilemma](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
Troop move highlights US dilemma
President Barack Obama's announcement yesterday that he is sending 450 more military advisers to Iraq highlights the central dilemma of his faltering strategy there.
![US still in search of Iraq plan](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
US still in search of Iraq plan
President Barack Obama has admitted that American forces still "don't have a complete strategy" for training Iraqi troops to stand their ground against Isis (Islamic State) fighters.
![Gerry Brownlee on secret trip to Iraq](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
Gerry Brownlee on secret trip to Iraq
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has just paid a secret trip to visit
![Robert G. Patman: NZ must use UN and troops to fight Isis](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
Robert G. Patman: NZ must use UN and troops to fight Isis
Despite denials by Prime Minister John Key, there are growing signs that advances by Isis fighters will raise the risks facing Kiwi troops in Iraq, writes Robert G. Patman.
![Australian Isis kids face long road home](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
Australian Isis kids face long road home
Five Sydney children trying to return from Syria have every chance of being reintegrated into Australian society, an expert says.
![Acrimony among allies over fall of Ramadi](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
Acrimony among allies over fall of Ramadi
The uneasy international alliance against Isis (Islamic State) descended into acrimony yesterday as allies traded accusations over what led to the fall of Ramadi.
![Front line approaches Kiwis](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
Front line approaches Kiwis
NZ's contingent of military training specialists have barely arrived and the folly of this military (mis)adventure is already becoming apparent, writes Armstrong.
![US attacks Iraq's lack of 'will'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
US attacks Iraq's lack of 'will'
US Defence Secretary Carter warned that Iraqi troops would not be able to defeat Isis until they developed a "will to fight", reflecting surprise after the collapse in Ramadi.
![Kiwi troops settling at their Iraq base](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
Kiwi troops settling at their Iraq base
The Defence Force says New Zealand soldiers have settled into their base in Taji, Iraq, and have started training local troops to fight the so-called Islamic State.
![Shia forces gather to take back Iraqi city](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
Shia forces gather to take back Iraqi city
Shia militia groups have converged on the Iraqi city of Ramadi to help wrest it back from Isis (Islamic State) fighters, who seized it in a three-day blitz.
![No Kiwi withdrawal as Isis advances](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
No Kiwi withdrawal as Isis advances
Prime Minister John Key said the Islamic State’s advance was not a “trigger point” for reviewing New Zealand’s non-combat deployment.
![NZ soldiers arrive in Iraq](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
NZ soldiers arrive in Iraq
New Zealand soldiers have arrived at Camp Taji in Iraq to begin their deployment, the Defence Force has confirmed.
![Australia's blue-eyed Isis doctor](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
Australia's blue-eyed Isis doctor
A young Isis doctor identified as Tareq Kamleh has been revealed to be an Australian doctor who trained in Adelaide.
![Kiwis want to join fight against Isis](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
Kiwis want to join fight against Isis
Up to 25 New Zealanders want to travel to the Middle East to fight against Isis, local Iraqi and Kurdish leaders say.
![Slain Kiwi's child fears revenge](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
Slain Kiwi's child fears revenge
One of slain Iraqi New Zealander Kadhem Chilab Abbas's 24 children fears other family members will be next to die as they try to take revenge.
![NZDF personnel leave for Australia on way to Iraq](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
NZDF personnel leave for Australia on way to Iraq
A large contingent of Defence Force personnel to be deployed in Iraq left Ohakea Air Force Base today for Australia, the Defence Force says.
![Abbott arrives for Anzac events](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
Abbott arrives for Anzac events
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott arrived in New Zealand last night for Anzac centenary events and talks on the military mission to Iraq.
![Terrorist attack threat increases](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
Terrorist attack threat increases
More New Zealanders were being monitored because of their links to Islamic State the head of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service says.
![Girls tell of abuse at hands of Isis](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
Girls tell of abuse at hands of Isis
Yazidi girls - some as young as 8 - were raped by jihadists then sold, says a report issued yesterday.
![NZ Defence Minister: Troops haven't left for Iraq](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
NZ Defence Minister: Troops haven't left for Iraq
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has dismissed reports that New Zealand troops have already left for Iraq on their joint training mission with Australia.
![First troops en route to Baghdad](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
First troops en route to Baghdad
An advance party of about 85 Australian and New Zealand troops left Australia yesterday in a joint training mission now called Task Force Taji.
![Clinton accused of failures in Iraq](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
Clinton accused of failures in Iraq
A former British diplomat has accused Hillary Clinton of contributing to Iraq's disastrous meltdown during her four years as Barack Obama's foreign policy chief.
![PM unable to name the head of Isis](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
PM unable to name the head of Isis
Prime Minister John Key was unable to name the head of the Islamist terrorist group Isis - but nor could the Australian Defence Minister.
![Iraqi PM to Obama: Give us aid to finish Isis](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=798)
Iraqi PM to Obama: Give us aid to finish Isis
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi made a personal appeal to US President Barack Obama for more funds to help the country push back Isis forces.