Seventy Defence Force soldiers have returned home tonight after being deployed to help train security forces in Iraq.

The personal arrived at the RNZAF base at Ohakea after being part of the second rotation deployed to Iraq last November.

A Defence Force spokesman said the soldiers have been helping the Iraqi military to regain their combat power as they step up anti-terror operations.

New Zealand and Australian forces have trained almost 70,000 Iraqi Security Force members at Taji Military complex since the mission began in April last year.