Washington, Sep 16 (IANS): A US airstrike was carried out near Iraqi capital Baghdad which marked a new phase in the fight against Islamic State (IS).

US Central Command said in a statement that it was the first strike as part of "expanded efforts" to help Iraqi forces on the offensive against IS, CNN reported Tuesday.

Monday's airstrike destroyed an IS fighting position that had been firing at Iraqi forces, Central Command said.

"It occurred about 35 km (22 miles) southwest of Baghdad," an official said.

The US began targeted airstrikes against IS in Iraq last month to protect American personnel and support humanitarian missions.

Last week, US President Barack Obama said new airstrikes would aim to help Iraqi forces on the offensive against the Islamist militants.

Obama also said airstrikes would also include IS targets in Syria and he also asked Congress for authorisation to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels.

US Secretary of State John Kerry courted Middle Eastern leaders over the weekend to join a coalition in the fight against IS previously known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS).

More than two dozen nations, the Arab League, the European Union (EU) and UN met in Paris Monday, calling IS a threat to the international community and agreeing to "ensure that the culprits are brought to justice".

The US has conducted more than 150 airstrikes in Iraq against ISIS.