New Zealand to extend troops deployment in Iraq

New Zealand will extend its deployment in Iraq for another 18 months and expand to a second military base, Prime Minister John Key has confirmed. 
The non-combat deployment in the battle against ISIS group had been set to finish early next year, but would now last until November 2018, according to New Zealand (NZ Herald). 
As well as a longer deployment, New Zealand would commit a small amount of troops to travel to Besmeya military base, 52km from the Taji Military Base where they are currently based. 
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said Monday: "At Besmeya our troops will ensure a smooth hand-over of the Iraqi soldiers they've been training at Taji to other coalition trainers, who will be teaching them to use heavy weapons." New Zealand's 143 military trainers would remain "behind the wire" and there was no plan for soldiers to engage in combat missions. 
Brownlee said the Cabinet had also agreed to provide training to stabilisation forces, such as the Iraqi Federal Police, in addition to the Iraqi Army.

Source: QNA