Australians fighting with ISIS in the Middle East have been issued a stern warning that they will ‘perish on the battlefield’ if they make a final stand.
Defence Minister Marise Payne said the coalition were seeking a ‘complete defeat’ of ISIS and that Australian jihadis in Syria and Iraq would be subject to the same fate, The Australian reports.
It comes as Islamic state’s ‘capital’ of Raqqa was reclaimed by US-backed forces last week after being seized by the terror group in 2014.
Defence Minister Marise Payne (pictured) has issued a stern warning to Australian’s fighting with ISIS in the Middle East, claiming they will ‘perish on the battlefield’ if they make a final stand
Islamic state’s ‘capital’ of Raqqa was reclaimed by US-backed forces last week after being seized by the terror group in 2014 (pictured are the heavily damaged buildings from Saturday)
Ms Payne said the government had updated their rules of engagement to take on more aggressive approach to targeting ISIS fighters.
‘The government has ensured the ADF is able to target all members of Daesh, whether they are fighting on the front line or working in a support role in a back office,’ she said.
‘Australians who have joined Daesh are subjected to the same risks as any other member of the criminal organisation and should expect to perish on the battlefield.’
More than 100 Australian jihadis are believed to still be in Syria and Iraq, with the government tracking foreign fighters since Raqqa’s fall.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed that about 80 other Australians who had joined terror groups in the region had been killed.
‘We understand that some of the terrorist fighters fled south. We are certainly tracking those whom we believe to be Australian,’ she told The Advertiser.
Ms Payne said the government had updated their rules of engagement, with the ADF now ‘able to target all members of Daesh’ (pictured is an ISIL fighter in Raqqa in 2014)
More than 100 Australian jihadis are believed to still be in Syria and Iraq, with 80 others confirmed dead (Pictured are Syrian Democratic Forces in a firefight in Raqqa in September)
Intelligence agencies have been monitoring the fighters amid fears they may flee, with Ms Payne saying they could expect prosecution if they returned home.
Among those that may be dead following the capture of Raqqa is an Australian paediatrician who fled to Syria to recruit terrorists for ISIS.
Adelaide trained doctor Tareq Kamleh, dubbed ‘Dr Jihad’, left Australia in 2015 to pursue life as a terrorist recruiter.
He appeared in several propaganda videos encouraging Muslims to perform terrorist attacks in Australia.
Among those that may be dead following the capture of Raqqa is Australian paediatrician Tareq Kamleh (pictured) who fled to Syria to recruit terrorists for ISIS in 2015