US Air Force Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II fighter jet
A Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter flies toward its new home at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida in this U.S. Air Force picture taken on January 11, 2011. Lockheed Martin Corp on Monday said it has delivered the next version of the computer-based logistics system used to support the F-35 fighter jet to the U.S. military for flight testing. Reuters/Stringer

The first Australian troop has been deployed in the Middle East, according to Aussie PM Tony Abbott. However, an involvement in Syria may turn out to be "illegal," reports suggest.

Abbott confirmed that a total number of 600 personnel would join the U.S.-led mission in Iraq. More number of troops will fly within the next five days, Abbott confirmed. The Australian prime minister, who already seemed determined to fight against the Islamic State, also said that he could not rule out the possibility of the troops getting involved in Syria as well. Australia's cooperation in the Iraq mission includes the deployment of the Special Forces and the Super Hornet aircraft among other support, Sky News reported.

Abbott's indication that Australia might join the fight against the Islamic State in Syria as well came after U.S. President Barack Obama had hinted that American forces might follow the militant group even in Syria if needed. Australia, on the other hand, may find it a more difficult to conduct its operation in Syria as Abbott's government does not recognise Bashar al-Assad as the President of Syria. RT reported that it could be against the law to strike against the Islamic State in Syria if neither Assad not the United Nations agreed.

According to the UK House of Commons Library paper, justifying air strikes in Syria is not going to be easy to justify unless Assad asks for Western support against the extremist group. It is legal to conduct a mission in Iraq as Iraqi President Fuad Masum has asked for help from Western countries to counter terrorism. "Action in Syria will be difficult to justify legally without a request for assistance from the Assad government, and it is unlikely that the West could be seen to be responding to such a request," the document said, "Any action against ISIL (ISIS) in Iraq will be inadequate without action against them in Syria and the rhetoric against the Assads may be toned down."

The U.S. forces, in the meantime, bombed near Baghdad and Mount Sinjar. The Australian reported that the U.S. president earlier gave command to have a "relentless" war to "destroy" the Islamic State. The couple of air strikes has been confirmed in a statement released by the U.S. Central Command.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au