Australia carries out first strikes on ISIS

Australian fighter jets have carried out their first air strike against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group in Syria, destroying an armored personnel carrier, Defense Minister Kevin Andrews said on Wednesday.

“This is part of our logical extension in the fight against Daesh to operate not just over northern Iraq but also to operate over eastern Syria in order to degrade and destroy Daesh Forces,” the minister told reporters using the Arabic acronym for ISIS.

A Royal Australian Air Force Hornet fighter destroyed an ISIS armored personnel carrier with a precision-guided missile two days ago, Andrews said.

The United States, Canada, Turkey and Gulf states have already been involved in strikes on ISIS militants in Syria.

Australia joined the US-led coalition fighting ISIS in Iraq last year but last week extended air operations into Syria, saying the legal basis was the collective self-defense of Iraq against the jihadist group which does not respect borders.

Australian aircraft completed their first operation in Syria on Friday but did not attack any targets. Britain killed two militants in a drone attack in Syria last week.