Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) troops deployed in Kuwait are doing valuable work that protects Singaporeans and Singapore, by helping to disrupt the operations of terror group ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria), Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said yesterday.

"All of us recognise that unless you attack terrorism at the source, you will not be able to... stop them from exporting terrorism," he said after visiting the SAF's 11-man Imagery Analysis Team that has been supporting the counter-ISIS coalition at the Combined Joint Task Force Headquarters.

Dr Ng was in Kuwait on his way to Bahrain for the International Institute for Strategic Studies Manama Dialogue, where he will speak.

Since an international coalition against ISIS started in 2014, its footprint has shrunk significantly, and coalition forces are trying to liberate key cities and bring them back for mainstream governments, Dr Ng said. The SAF team turns raw images into useful intelligence products, the Defence Ministry noted.

Dr Ng said the team's morale is very good, and commanders were deeply appreciative of their work.

He added: "They know this job they are doing here is very serious and what they do here protects Singaporeans and Singapore. We will continue to add other contributions that we deem beneficial for this fight against terror."

Joanna Seow