The Labour Party has hit out at the Government sending Defence Force troops to the Middle East, saying it has shades of the Iraq invasion.

Six personnel will assist in targeting coalition strikes on Houthi rebels, who have been attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

Foreign Affairs spokesperson David Parker says they don't believe the country should be embroiled there.

"I think history shows that they've got some very deep-seated conflicts there, they've got warring factions of different religions, they've got long-term civil wars. We don't think New Zealand should be participating in those conflicts."

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