Operation Okra | |
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Part of the American-led intervention in Iraq, Foreign involvement in the Syrian Civil War and the War against the Islamic State | |
Location | |
Objective | Australia's contribution to the War against ISIL |
Date | 31 August 2014 – present[1] |
Executed by | Australian Army Royal Australian Air Force Australian Signals Directorate[2] |
Operation Okra is the Australian Defence Force (ADF) contribution to the military intervention against the Islamic State. The force is part of Joint Task Force 633 in the Middle East. The operation commenced on 31 August 2014,[3] and its initial stated aim was to combat ISIL threats in Iraq.[4] In September 2015, the Australian airstrikes were extended to Syria. In June 2017, flights in Syria were temporarily halted in response to American forces shooting down a Syrian Air Force jet, before later being resumed.