Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott During An Official Visit To Putrajaya, Malaysia
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott speaks at a joint news conference with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak during an official visit in Putrajaya September 6, 2014. Reuters/Olivia Harris

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has previously announced that Australia's military warplanes will begin support operations over Iraq on Oct. 1. Mr Abbott said combat flights still await the approval of Parliament but early warning control aircraft and refuellers were operational in Iraq.

As reported in New York Times, Mr Abbott has only been in office for only a year but he has been "moving quickly" to send Australian fighter jets and 600 military troops to support U.S.-led airstrikes against the extremist group, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria before U.S. President Barack Obama had formally asked allied countries.

Mr Abbott order anti-terror raids in two cities to sweep and arrest suspected supporters of ISIS. Only two people were arrested but it proved Australia's strong stance against local Muslim radicals. To deter further recruitment of ISIS, Australia passed anti-terrorism laws to give to expand police powers to increase surveillance of telecommunications and detain suspected individuals. Reports said the new legislation will also make it illegal for journalists to publish or report on intelligence matters with a penalty of imprisonment of up to 10 years.

Mr Abbott's recent decisions had analysts in Australia question the effect everything will have in the country. They wonder how Australia's military involvement in Iraq could change the outcome of the conflict.

According to Hugh White, a former senior Australian defense official and now teaching at the Australian National University, said Mr Abbott may want Australia to stand with the U.S. and fight for "what is right." Some analysts also think Mr Abbott is using the ISIS threat as an opportunity to increase his popularity in Australia.

Reports indicate that the prime minister's political standing has improved since May when he first introduced the government's tough budget cuts. The Australian Labour party, Mr Abbott's strongest opposition, has backed his policy decisions including the tough legislation on anti-terrorism. However, Labour's support does not include sending combat troops on the ground.

Australian intelligence officials revealed that there are about 70 Australian citizens who are joining ISIS to fight in Iraq and Syria. The passports of suspected ISIS supporters still in the country have been suspended to prevent them from joining their Muslim brethren.