Australia is ending its direct involvement in air strikes against Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria after an "arduous and brutal" campaign.
A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18F Super Hornet above Iraq in 2014. Photo: AFP / MICK DAVIS / AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE
Defence Minister Marise Payne announced the RAAF's F/A-18F Super Hornet jets would be brought back to Australia, after Iraq's Prime Minister declared victory in the war against the terrorist group - which had declared a 'caliphate' straddling areas of Iraq and Syria.
Islamic State recently suffered the loss of its final stronghold in Raqqa, its self-declared "capital".
It is estimated up to 80 percent of the northern Syrian city was destroyed in the battles between Kurdish-led forces and Islamic State fighters.
Senator Payne said Australia had made a significant contribution to the fight against Islamic State.
"Given the success that has been achieved on the battlefield by the Iraqi security forces, Australia's contribution is now at a transition point," she said.
"Following discussions with Iraq and members of the international Coalition, the Australian Government has determined we will bring home our six Super Hornet strike aircraft from the Middle East."
She said there was no doubt Australia's air strikes helped the Iraqi security forces on the ground.
Ms Payne said Australia's military involvement in Iraq would continue with surveillance and refuelling aircraft to remain in the region.
"We are there at the invitation of the Government of Iraq," Senator Payne said.
"I acknowledge the effort of all involved in this campaign, it has been long, it has been arduous and it has been brutal."
The ADF's contribution to the US-led coalition against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria was made up of approximately 780 Defence Force staff.
As part of the operation the ADF deployed an Air Task Group included six Super Hornets, an E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft, and a Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft.
Coalition aircraft carried out thousands of attacks in support of Iraqi and Kurdish ground forces.
Monitoring groups claim thousands of civilians were killed in the aerial campaign.
The coalition's Combined Joint Task Force said only 0.35 per cent of all its "28,198 strikes that included 56,976 separate engagements" conducted between August 2014 and October 2017 resulted in a credible report of civilian casualties.
"The total number of reports of possible civilian casualties was 1,790," a monthly report said.
- ABC
