The "murderous terrorist organisation" known as Islamic State (IS) is not only a threat to the Middle East but to Australia and the rest of the world, Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop has told the United Nations Security Council.
Ms Bishop joined US Secretary of State John Kerry and other foreign ministers at a Security Council session in New York on Friday to discuss the campaign to bolster Iraq's effort against IS, also known as ISIS and ISIL.
"The international community cannot with any conscience turn away," she told the Security Council chamber.
The foreign affairs minister outlined Australia's willingness to deploy strike, early warning and air-to-air refuelling aircraft, a special forces task group to advise and assist Iraqi forces and millions of dollars in aid to help humanitarian efforts in the war-torn country.
Ms Bishop also referred to the recent crackdown and arrests in Australia of alleged IS supporters.
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"ISIL's actions leave in no doubt the severity of the threat to the region and the wider world," she said.
"It poses a threat to Australia, our friends in South East Asia and beyond.
"We have seen this before - extremists, foreign fighters returning home responsible for terrorist attacks in our region.
"Australia's security and law enforcement agencies have taken steps in recent days against a group in our country inspired by ISIL who were seeking to emulate their brutality in Australia."
Ms Bishop also referred to the photo of the young son of an alleged Sydney jihadist holding up the severed head of a slain Syrian soldier.
"Who can forget the grotesque image shown around the globe of an Australian child not more than nine years old standing with his father, an ISIL leader, and holding up the severed head of a soldier," she said.
"This showed beyond any ambiguity the kind of hideous acts of which this group is capable."
After Ms Bishop's address Mr Kerry congratulated Australia for its support.
"We are particularly appreciative of the extent of Australia's commitment from obviously so far away," he said.
"It is very meaningful, it is very important and we thank you for your leadership."
Earlier, Ms Bishop was involved in a fiery Security Council session on the July 17 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine.
She blamed Russia for arming rebels in eastern Ukraine and making the crash site unsafe for investigators.
"Let me be clear, the security situation around the site and in much of eastern Ukraine has deteriorated because of Russian support to arm separatist groups," Ms Bishop told the Security Council.
"That support continues and it must cease."
Russian Ambassador at the UN Vitaly Churkin, however, said Russia was a victim of an "information war".
"This tragedy has been used by a number of countries to exacerbate international tensions immediately following the incident and without any verified proof public statements were made where all of the blame was laid on the rebels and our country was held responsible for the perpetration of serious international violations," he said.
"Let us not forget these actions were indeed the cause for engulfing Russia in a sanctions spiral.
"We think this was an act of information war and blatant intervention in the investigation of the incident as well as a political attempt to predetermine the results of the investigations."
