Bahrain Mirror: Australian Defence Minister Pat Conroy announced that Australia will triple the size of its military group in Bahrain through sending additional forces to the headquarters of the Combined Maritime Force, the US-led "security coalition" in the Red sea and the Gulf.

Conroy said in a speech he delivered in front of journalists that "The number of Australian military personnel in the Middle East coalition will triple," adding that "We will continue the deployment of forces by the end of this month."

The Combined Maritime Force includes 39 countries, with its headquarters in Bahrain, where the US fifth fleet is also stationed. 

The Australian unit within the Combined Maritime Force previously included 10 soldiers, but at the end of December, Australia promised to increase it to at least 30 members.

Arabic Version