AFP/File | Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern has courted the youth vote campaigning on issues such as free tertiary education, health and housing affordability
WELLINGTON, June 10 (MENA) - New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed that the Cabinet has decided to end New Zealand Defense Force troop deployment in Iraq in June next year, New Zealand Herald reported Monday.
The deployment in Camp Taji will scale down to 75 troops from July and to 45 troops in January before the mission ends in June.
Up to 95 Kiwi troops have been stationed at Camp Taji since February 2015, training Iraqi Security Forces as part of the Building Partner Capacity mission.
"When it comes to Iraq, it's time to go." Ardern said.
Ardern said more than 44,000 ISF personnel have been trained at Taji since New Zealand was deployed as part of the multinational Defeat-Isis Coalition.
"Four years ago New Zealand made a commitment to the Iraqi Government and to the Coalition to train the ISF at Taji and lift their capability to defeat and prevent the resurgence of Isis," Ardern said.
"Over the next 12 months, New Zealand will be able to wind down and conclude that commitment," he added.
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