Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop walks with her Iraqi counterpart Ibrahim al-Jaafari (not in picture) in Baghdad October 18, 2014. Bishop arrived in Baghdad for talks with Iraqi officials on Australia's role in the fight against Islami
Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop walks with her Iraqi counterpart Ibrahim al-Jaafari (not in picture) in Baghdad October 18, 2014. Bishop arrived in Baghdad for talks with Iraqi officials on Australia's role in the fight against Islamic State. Reuters/Ahmed Saad

Australia has helped curb the momentum of ISIS. A senior official of the White House said the international coalition of 60 nations has “blunted” ISIS' momentum in Iraq.

John Allen, U.S. President Barack Obama’s presidential envoy who visited recently visited Australia, has warned of both advances and setbacks as the fight against ISIS continues. He said the last six months have demonstrated that ISIS and other terrorist groups before ISIS were only “a criminal gang and death cult” under mounting pressure.

Allen told the Atlantic Council in Washington that ISIS is sending its “gullible” recruits to die as untrained suicide bombers. He said countries should prepare for the rise of ISIS supporters and foreign fighters as they become threats to national security, reports the Daily Telegraph.

He mentioned the past events in Sydney, Brussels, Ottawa, Paris and Copenhagen. The presidential envoy said the threat of ISIS is not confined to a distant and dark place since a terror attack can happen anywhere.

Australia has sent 300 more troops to help train Iraqi forces to fight ISIS. The government has deployed a 600-strong force composed of 400 air force personnel and 200 special forces in the Middle East. The additional Aussie troops will join the 143 members of the New Zealand Defence Force in Taji, northwest of Baghdad.

The country has been on high alert for any attacks from returning foreign fighters in the Middle East. A gunman and two hostages had died in a terror attack in Sydney’s Martin Place. The suspect had sought to align himself with ISIS when he stormed the Sydney café in December.

Recently, Kurdish fighters have claimed that they have launched an attack on ISIS to avenge the death of the Australian soldier who was killed last week in northern Iraq. Ashley Johnston was fighting alongside the Kurdish People’s Protection Units. According to the Daily Mail, the Kurds have posted gruesome photos of the massacre on Facebook.

Australia’s Department of Defence has confirmed that Johnston was a former member of the Australian Army Reserve for seven years. The 28-year-old was believed to be fighting with the Kurds in an attempt to liberate the Syrian town of Tal Hamis from ISIS.

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