AUSTRALIA TO BEGIN AIR STRIKES
Australia will begin bombing raids in Iraq targetting terrorist group the Islamic State.
The National Security Council met in Canberra this morning to sign off on the raids after receiving clearance from the Iraqi Government. ISIL must be disrupted and degraded at home and abroad.
"Today cabinet has authorised Australian airstrikes in Iraq at the request of the Iraqi Government," said Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Mr Abbott says the mission is in Australia's best interests.
"It an essentially humanitarian mission, yes it is a combat deployment but it is an essentially humanitarian mission to protect the people of Iraq and ultimately the people of Australia from the murderous rage of the ISIL death cult."
Australian Special Forces soldiers will also be moved in to Iraq assisting local forces pending final legal documentation.
Air Chief Marshall Mark Binskin said the mission is imminent "over the coming days I won't be specific."
Mr Abbott stressed Australia was not going to war.
"I know that you'd love that headline but it's strictly not accurate.
We we are engaged in combat operations. But these are combat operations against an insurgency in support of the legitimate government of Iraq."
