SYDNEY - AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Kevin Rudd visited troops supporting Iraqi operations at a secret base in the Middle East a day after a flying visit to soldiers in Afghanistan, reports said on Friday.

The Australian Defence Force has not divulged the location of the base, which will reportedly soon become Australia's headquarters for all Middle East operations.

Mr Rudd, who was on a pre-Christmas mission to visit Australian soldiers, praised the staff at the base during his visit on Thursday and said he hoped they enjoyed a safe holiday season.

'This is important stuff and you're at the cutting edge of it, you make it work,' Australian reporters travelling with the prime minister quoted him as telling the troops.

Earlier, the prime minister went aboard the HMAS Parramatta moored off Abu Dhabi where he told sailors their efforts in protecting Iraq's off-shore oil platforms were appreciated.

'This mission for this great ship is important, it's important for our collective interests in this part of the world,' Mr Rudd said.

'Unless Iraq has a viable economy, then there is no future for Iraq.

'The viability of the Iraqi economy hangs on its ability to get its oil product through these two critical oil platforms and that is where this great ship has a central function.'

Australia has about 980 defence force personnel stationed in Iraq and surrounding countries in support of the war, with some of them also supporting operations in Afghanistan.

Mr Rudd withdrew Australia's 550 combat troops from southern Iraq earlier this year, fulfilling a promise he made ahead of elections a year ago. -- AFP