Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has reportedly revealed that the country has no plans to deploy combat troops to fight Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East.

Turnbull claimed the deployment of troops to Iraq and Syria would not be a ‘feasible’ or a ‘practical option’ for the country, reported the BBC.

He also noted that the terrorist group is ‘weak’ and ‘we must not be fooled by its hype’.

"ISIL has many more smartphones than guns, more Twitter accounts than fighters."

Commenting as part of a national security statement to Australia’s parliament, Turnbull was quoted by the news agency as saying that the IS ‘group must be defeated militarily in Iraq and Syria’,

Turnbull added: "Its ideology is archaic, but its use of the internet is very modern. ISIL has many more smartphones than guns, more Twitter accounts than fighters.

"It does not command broad-based legitimacy even in those areas under its direct control. It is encircled by hostile forces. It is under military pressure."

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The Australian Government has adopted a five-tiered National Terrorism Threat Advisory System, which aims to inform the public about potential threats to national security.

The new system will enable the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) to determine the level of threat required to adapt measures for a secure environment.

According to a Reuters report, Turnbull has called for greater intelligence sharing with Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore to prevent an attack similar to those in Paris.

Australia is part of the US-led coalition fighting IS in Iraq and Syria.