Aussie jets strike Islamic State target in Iraq

A Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornet. Photo / Doug Sherring

Australian fighter jets have attacked an Islamic State facility in Iraq.

Two bombs were dropped from an F/A-18F Super Hornet on to an IS facility, the Australian Defence Force said in a statement today.

"All aircraft exited the target area safely and returned to base," the statement said.

It is the first time Australia has launched air strikes since beginning combat operations on Sunday.

The strikes follows the first two-aircraft sortie on Sunday, followed by four aircraft on Monday. However, no bombs dropped.

The Defence Force said it would not be providing further details on the air strike at this time.

Further information would be provided when Defence conducts its next briefing on what it has dubbed Operation Okra.

Labor frontbencher Jason Clare was the first Australian politician to respond to the news.

"We strongly support the actions that the government has taken here," he told Sky News.

Australia's next big move will be deploying 200 commandos and their support personnel into Iraq to advise and assist Iraqi forces on the ground.

The Australian special forces will operate in small teams, advising and assisting the headquarters of Iraqi security force units down to battalion level.

Yesterday, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott played down the prospect of deploying Australian combat troops on the ground in Iraq, saying only Iraqis can save their country from Islamic State extremists.

However, he left the door ajar to a further deployment.

- AAP