Radio New Zealand International reports that the 55-strong contingent is made up of volunteers and will be in Iraq for the next six months.
Tonga is the only independent nation in the South Pacific to have troops in Iraq and is one of a dwindling number of nations internationally contributing to the American-led Operation Iraqi Freedom.
However, the U.S. Army recruits soldiers from American Samoa and other U.S. affiliated islands in the region. And large numbers of Fijians are serving in the British forces and working for military contractors in Iraq.
Lt. Col. Aleamotua said to date the Tongan forces have sustained no fatalities or serious injuries. He said the Tongan Defense Force has no difficulty convincing its members to go to Iraq.
“We don’t run short of volunteers,” he said. “Everyone is quite keen to deploy. Yes we’re a volunteer force and we volunteer to deploy.”
Aleamotua said the third contingent will be back in Tonga by the beginning of next month.
