Australia to deploy more than 300 troops to Iraq for training mission

More than 300 troops will ship out from Australia from tomorrow to train the Iraqi military, in a mission expected to take two years.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott made the announcement from Canberra today, stressing it was not a combat mission, but an operation to train the local military.

It is part of the wider effort to combat the threat of ISIL, in addition to 600 Australian personnel already in the air and on the ground.

"This is not a combat mission, but Iraq is a dangerous place," Mr Abbott said.

"I can’t tell you that this is risk free."

The deployed troops will partner with 100 New Zealand military personnel in the mission, which is at the "express invitation" of the Iraqi government.

"What we’ll be doing is comparable to what other countries are doing," Mr Abbott said.

They will be based at the Taji military complex north of Baghdad.

Having slowed the advance of ISIL, the operation's aim is to support Iraq's Security Forces to reclaim and hold its territory.

The size and nature of Australia's overall commitment in Iraq would also remain under regular review, Mr Abbott said.

Australian personnel will not be working with local militias.

"We don't work with irregulars, we don't work with informal, armed groups," Mr Abbott said.