Aust carries out airstrikes in Syria

Australian warplanes have carried out their first airstrike against the Islamic State group in Syria, destroying an armored personnel carrier, Defence Minister Kevin Andrews said Wednesday.

“Two days ago an Australian Hornet fighter aircraft destroyed a Daesh armored carrier”, Mr Andrews said in Canberra.

The RAAF has executed its first air strike in Syria, destroying an Islamic State armoured vehicle and marking an expansion of the campaign, while elite Australian commandos are set to be withdrawn from Iraq in the coming weeks.

The target in this case was an IS operated armoured personnel carrier, which is similar to a tank but with rubber tyres.

Australia’s air force has been bombing IS targets in Iraq for about 12 months.

In addition to Australia and the USA , Bahrain, Canada, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates also participated in the airstrikes.

A U.S.-led coalition struck Islamic State militants on Saturday with 18 air strikes in Iraq and seven in Syria, the Combined Joint Task Force said on Sunday.

“As a nation, we have a responsibility to be a sanctuary for those in need and play our part in the spirit of humanity and kindness”.

The Hornets refer to two Australia’s 24 Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornets , which are the country’s go-to strike fighters, usually deployed with a range air to surface missiles.

“The government has decided to reshape the scope of the advise and assist mission from around 200 Australian Defence Force (ADF) Special Forces personnel to around 80″, he told the chamber.

“We don’t normally announce the missions that occur nearly on a daily basis”, Mr Andrews said.

The strikes in Iraq, coordinated with the Iraqi government, hit Islamic State buildings, weapons and tactical units near Falluja, Mosul, Ramadi and other locations, the statement said. However, Andrews reportedly ruled out sending troops to Syria.