Australian warplanes to be deployed to join airstrikes on Islamic State

MELBOURNE: Australia today authorised deployment of warplanes to join US-led airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq.

The announcement was made after Prime Minister Tony Abbott's meeting with the National Security Committee of Cabinet.

"Today, Cabinet has authorised Australian airstrikes in Iraq at the request of the Iraqi government and in support of the Iraqi government," Abbott said.

"Also, subject to final legal documentation, Cabinet has authorised the deployment of Australian special forces into Iraq to advise and assist Iraqi forces," Abbott said.

"I want to stress that only Iraq can defeat ISIL (IS), but Iraq shouldn't be alone and as far as Australia and our allies are concerned, Iraq won't be alone," he said.

Abbott said the mission was "in the interest of civilisation" and warned the deployment "could be quite lengthy".

"Certainly months rather than weeks," he said of the mission's length.

Defence Force Chief Mark Binskin said the air strikes "won't be rushed" and would begin "over the coming days,".

"It is a dangerous mission, but I am confident that the CDF [Chief of the Defence Force] has put in place all possible measures to minimise risk," Abbott said.

"We are not in combat against another country. We are engaged in combat operations against an insurgency in support of the legitimate government of Iraq," he said.

A Six F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets have been on standby in the Middle East for two weeks in preparation for joining the US-led attacks on IS targets.

The US forces began strikes against IS targets in Iraq in August, and in Syria last month.

The Islamic State militant group has occupied parts of Iraq and Syria where they have declared a Caliphate.