US President Barack Obama is deploying 300 military advisors to Iraq as the government in Baghdad faces a deadly insurgency from Sunni radicals.  Australia is still sizing up the situation there, and would consider assistance requests from the US or Iraqi governments.

“The United States obviously has to lead any kind of response in Iraq as they are the world power, if you like,” Coalition MP Christopher Pyne told Nine Network.

Mr. Obama told reporters at the White House that the US was prepared for “targeted and precise military action, if and when” it is needed.  But, he made clear that US troops would not fight in Iraq.  They'll teach Iraqi commanders ways to recapture cities held by ISIS.  And the Americans will also step up intelligence efforts and assist in setting up “joint operation centers in Baghdad and northern Iraq, to share intelligence and co-ordinate planning”, according to Obama.

US war planes are already flying surveillance missions over the areas controlled by ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, which is also often abbreviated as ISIL.  But the Sunni militants are spread out in civilian areas, and may not make good targets for the US air strikes that Iraq’s embattled Prime Minister Nouri Maliki had requested.