A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter walks past a mosque damaged by an airstrike in Suleiman Beg, after the town was retaken on Monday September 3, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS)
A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter walks past a mosque damaged by an airstrike in Suleiman Beg, after the town was retaken on Monday September 3, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS) Reuters/Ahmed Jadallah

Less than a week after President Barack Obama's announcement, the United States has carried out its first expanded airstrike that purposely targets the terror group Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) in Iraq.

This, as a meeting in Paris composed of representatives from 30 countries and international organisations, including the United States, Russia and China, discuss the crisis.

On Sunday and Monday, the U.S. aided Iraqi security forces conducted two airstrikes near Sinjar and southwest of Baghdad as the latter fought off against the Islamic State militants.

The Iraqi forces sent the request to strike and provide air support. According to the CIA, the jihadists, who have declared a caliphate, have 31,500 fighters to date.

The U.S. Central Command said the two days' mission destroyed six Islamic State vehicles and one of the group's fighting positions that was firing on the Iraqi security forces, according to the AP.

The total number of US air strikes across Iraq is now recorded at 162. The campaign of air strikes against ISIS positions in northern Iraq by the U.S. actually started in August.

The earlier airstrikes in Iraq, however, were conducted to primarily protect U.S. interests and personnel, assist Iraqi refugees trapped on Mount Sinjar, as well as secure critical infrastructure such as the Mosul Dam.

Sunday and Monday's development marked the first escalation towards the Islamist militants following Mr Obama's announcement last week.

In the Paris meeting, the 30 diplomats vowed to support Iraq in its fight against ISIS by "any means necessary," including "appropriate military assistance."

On Monday, a number of Arab nations have signified their intent to join the fight against ISIS.

Read: Strike vs ISIS Countdown: Arab Nations Signify Intent to Join U.S. Fight

According to the Time, Mr Obama is scheduled on Tuesday to meet with retired General John Allen, newly-named Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, and his deputy, Brett McGurk, at the White House.

He will then travel on Wednesday to Florida for meetings with CENTCOM leaders and officials involved in building an international coalition against ISIS.