Australia Launches First IS Combat Mission In Iraq

For the first time, Australia has participated in a combat mission Iraq against Islamic State. The Australian warplanes played a supporting role but did not engage any targets.

The Australia Department of Defense released a statement on Monday saying the country's military had completed their first armed combat mission over Iraq.



Two Super Hornet F18 aircraft were part of a support mission in northern Iraq overnight, but did not actually use their weapons to attack a target.



"The Super Hornets were on-call to attack targets as identified," the defense department statement said.



Australia is taking part in a US-led effort to combat militants from the so-called Islamic State (IS) in Iraq.



In September, 600 troops and combat fighter planes from Australia were sent to the United Arab Emirates to prepare to join the coalition against IS.