Islamic State strongholds blasted out of the ground by Australian jets
Australia's war on Islamic State continues in the Middle East with incredible accuracy.
7 News can now show you rare aircraft video of two attack missions on Islamic State bases as our Defence Forces now take charge of one in every 10 of the Coalition's air strikes in Iraq and Syria.
Before dawn. January 17th.
Four Hornets and a giant refueller leave for Australia's deepest mission yet into the havoc of Syria.
Islamic State has developed a cave network near their capital - Al Raqqah.
According to Air Commodore Joe Iervasi, Director General Air Operations, a number of weeks of dedicated surveillance was executed to develop this as a viable target.
Seven kilometres above, the Australians lock onto a target the size of a single garage door, and unleash the first of eight ground-penetrating bombs.
The bomb is actually sent into the entrance of the cave.
Other coalition jets hit other cave entrances. The Australians leave satisfied that beneath the white hot ashes, a major Islamic State base and weapons store, lies buried.
"We weren't striking targets like this in the early days of the campaign," Vice Admiral David Johnston, Chief of Joint Operations said.
In just the last three months, Australia has flown 110 Coalition strike missions - 273 bombs, often taking the mission lead.
"I guess we're probably leading in the order of magnitude of ten percent," says Air Commodore Iervasi.
Earlier this month, above Western Iraq, the Australians led 18 Coalition aircraft to level a suspected Islamic State roadside bomb factory and weapons warehouse.
It's proving to be an air attack system brutally efficient at taking out Islamic State - when it can find them. Defence also says likely hundreds of Islamic State bases and perhaps 25,000 fighters are hidden beyond the reach of Coalition air power.
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