Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott inspects the guard of honour during an official visit in Putrajaya
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott inspects the guard of honour during an official visit in Putrajaya September 6, 2014. REUTERS/Olivia Harris

U.S. President Barack Obama wants Australia to back its efforts to counter the Islamic State by committing Special Forces soldiers to an international alliance against the militant group.

According to senior U.S. government personnel, the Obama administration has "high regards" for Australia's logistical abilities. The United States also appreciated the "disruption" abilities of the Australian Special Forces, The West Australian reported. Australia earlier indicated that it would back the international alliance by offering jet fighters. However, the U.S. administration apparently wants Australia to get more actively involved in the mission by contributing its Special Air Service Regiment troops and Commandos.

The American President is going to give a rare speech on prime-time TV at 11 am (AEST) on Thursday, Sept 11. He is going to give more details on how the international coalition will operate to annihilate the militant force of the Islamic State. According to the updates until now, the coalition troops will not have ground invasion in Syria or Iraq. Australia is expected to discuss its detailed role in the international coalition after Obama's address.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop earlier talked to Hoshyar Zebari, the newly-appointed Foreign Minister of Iraq. She assured Zebari that Australia would continue to help the Middle-Eastern nation fight against the Islamic State. Australia has already provided aircrafts for weapons airlifts and humanitarian airdrops.

Meanwhile, France has confirmed its direct involvement in Iraq. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said that his country was ready to participate in air strikes against the Islamic State if there was a requirement for it. "We will participate, if necessary, in military air action," Fabius said. He said that the international community should be prepared to war against the "transnational danger that could reach all the way to our soil." Fabius, along with his president, is going to visit Iraq on Friday, Sept 12. They are scheduled to hold an international conference on Monday on the measures that can be taken to help Iraq fight against the militant forces.

Federal Police earlier carried out a number of raids in Brisbane on Wednesday and arrested a couple of men who had allegedly been involved in helping the Syrian extremist group Jabhat al-Nusra. The raids were the outcome of an investigation for more than a year.

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