Sydney, Sep 28 (IANS): Australia will soon join the airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq.

"The national security committee and the cabinet will meet this week to discuss the action," Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Sunday.

"It is expected that the legal framework for Australian action in Iraq could be agreed with Baghdad shortly," the Brisbane Times quoted Bishop as saying.

Australia has deployed eight FA-18 Super Hornet jets, early warning and refuelling aircraft as well as 600 personnel to the Middle East. Of those 600 personnel, about 200 are said to be military advisors ready to work with Iraqi government forces to combat IS.

"We've been requested by the US and the Iraqi government to support efforts in Iraq. Australian defence minister David Johnston was in Baghdad to meet Iraqi leaders," Bishop said.

Syria was a different situation, Bishop said, but added "should there be a request in relation to Syria, well, we would consider it, we would also consider the legal framework that the US is relying upon in order to go into Syria, but we would make our own judgment about that".

Bishop praised the involvement of Arab states including Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Qatar in the US-led airstrikes on militants in Syria last week.