Prime Minister Tony Abbott is tipped to announce on Friday that Australia will begin combat operations against the Islamic State group, and air strikes are expected to begin at the weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Fairfax Media understands that Cabinet's national security committee will meet on Friday morning and the full Cabinet will meet afterwards to give its approval to a final decision on military action.
If the green light is given, the RAAF's six Super Hornets that are stationed at Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates will be cleared to start bombing raids against the Islamic State, also known as ISIL.
It is understood the Australian Defence Force has been planning for air combat operations to begin on Sunday. These could include reconnaissance missions and close air support to Iraqi forces as well as targeted air strikes.
The Abbott government was still waiting on Thursday for the Iraqi government to formally invite Australia to join the military action against the militant group, which has seized large parts of the country as well as carving out territory in neighbouring Syria.
The Iraqi Ambassador to Australia, Mouayed Saleh, said in Canberra if officials were not able to finalise the necessary legal framework for ADF involvement on Thursday – the final business day before the Muslim Eid holiday begins – a decision by Baghdad might have to wait another week.
"It depends on [how] the paperwork is going and the process today in Iraq," Mr Saleh said. "Unfortunately we are coming to a holiday – it's a major holiday in the Muslim world. It's going to be about a week starting tomorrow.
"Also we are faced with the formation of the new government, new ministers. That's why it's taking a little bit longer than usual to take that request and consider it and give our feedback to it."
However, senior Australian sources expressed confidence that the agreement – which is crucial for giving ADF personnel legal protection to carry out military action within Iraq – would be finalised soon.
Defence has also faced the task of negotiating rules of engagement – the circumstances in which ADF personnel can use force – that correspond to other coalition countries.
On Wednesday, a RAAF refuelling tanker and a surveillance plane flew into Iraq in support of coalition air strikes – the first time Australian aircraft have been involved in combat missions. It is understood further such missions will be conducted.
The developments came as the new Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, said he would not accept military action in his country by neighbouring Arab nations.
Several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and Jordan, have carried out air strikes in neighbouring Syria alongside the US. But Mr al-Abadi told the BBC he was "totally" against those countries conducting strikes.
The Iraqi leader also maintained that no foreign ground troops would be needed.
"We are very clear we will not accept any troops on the ground except Iraqi troops," he said.
As well as the RAAF planes, Australia has about 200 special forces soldiers, including commanders and logistics personnel, in the UAE ready to be deployed to Iraq to "advise and assist" the Iraqi forces as they battle the Islamic State on the ground.
