Advertisement

Islamic State 'is justified'

An Australian Muslim fighting in Syria and who supports the recent beheadings by Islamic State has told of his reasons for joining the conflict, and warned Australia against its involvement.

Abu Ousama was raised and educated in Australia but now lives in the Syrian city of Idlib, and is one of dozens of Australians who have left safe shores for the war-torn region.

He is among more than 1000 rebel fighters who form the Jund al Aqsa group - which is independent of Islamic State but supports its ideology.

Ousama travelled to Syria to distribute aid and is now a combat medic.

In an interview with British photojournalist Tam Hussein that aired on Seven News last night, Ousama said recent beheadings were a necessary part of establishing an Islamic State.

"You have these beheadings and some people might call them barbaric, some people might have all these names for them but what is the difference between a missile that hits a house which kills 15 kids compared to a man dying getting cut by his throat," he said.

"ISIS have taken this role of protecting the innocent Muslims of this country, of this land so they need to do what they have to do to make their state.

"If they are blackmailing America or anybody saying don't shoot a missile that is going to kill 50 or 60 people for one bloke - how can we say that's even equivalent to it being a wrong."

Ousama said he loved and missed Australia but could not rule out fighting against Australian forces "if they're going to come in with their planes, with their missiles and shoot innocents".

"I am sad to see Australia taking that step . . . coming into a place that it doesn't need to be," he said.

"Because it will cause a reaction.

"It will cause people to hate it."

Despite his support for the beheadings of innocents, he says he would pose no risk if he returned to Australia.

"There is no hatred between me and Australia and actually home is home, everybody is going to love their country," he said.

"Do I miss it? I'd pay 500 Syrian just to have some Coco Pops, just because you miss home and feel like some Coco Pops."

Ousama said he was not afraid to die in Syria.

"I hope Allah sees the good work we've done and blesses us with his reward (of paradise)," he said.

"This is the best, what more could you want?"

According to Australian Federal Police, more than 100 Australians have crossed into Syria since the conflict began.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop revealed this week up to three Australian passports a day were cancelled on security advice.

On September 29, Ms Bishop said she had cancelled about 50 passports on national security grounds, including three that week.

She said yesterday that since then she cancelled more based on security advice but did not know the total figure, though it was fewer than 100.

"I've been cancelling them on a virtual daily basis," Ms Bishop said.

Australian jets carried out their first attack in Iraq this week, dropping two bombs on a building used by IS fighters.