Australian warplanes make first air strike in Syria

This handout photo taken by the Australian Defense Force on September 24, 2014 shows a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18F Super Hornet (R) taxi-ing down the runway after its arrival at Australia’s main support base in the Middle East. Australia’s cabinet on October 3 authorized the deployment of special forces and military air strikes to tackle the Islamic State organization in Iraq, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott said. AFP PHOTO

SYDNEY, Australia—Australian fighter jets have carried out their first air strike against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group in Syria, destroying an armoured personnel carrier, Defence Minister Kevin Andrews said 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 Islamic State.

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

READ: US, ‘partners’ launch air strikes on IS jihadists in Syria

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-defence 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.

READ: Britain kills ISIS fighters in Syria for first time

Britain killed two jihadists in a drone attack in Syria last week.