CANBERRA, March 21: Elite Australian troops are in Iraq identifying targets for coalition aircraft and monitoring Iraqi troop movements, while its navy is hunting for any Iraqi leaders trying to flee by sea, a defence force spokesman said on Friday.

Members of Australia’s Special Air Service Regiment are “now undertaking active operations inside Iraq,” Brig. Mike Hannan told reporters at a briefing in Canberra.

Although Prime Minister John Howard hinted the forces were in action on Thursday, Hannan’s comment was the first clear confirmation.

He refused to give detailed information on the operations but said the 150 commandos were involved in “long-range reconnaissance surveillance operations where they would be seeking detailed information on such things as enemy troop movements, identifying targets such as key military installations.”

Australia has 2,000 military personnel involved in the coalition to disarm Iraq. The Australian operation is code-named “Operation Falconer.”

Also, Australian navy vessels are in the Persian Gulf, mainly intercepting boats coming out of Iraq, and it has deployed a range of aircraft including FA/18 fighter jets and surveillance and refuelling planes.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australia had dispatched a ship carrying 100,000 tons of wheat to help feed Iraqis.—AFP