Australia backs NATO Iraq-Syria plan

Australia has thrown its support behind a revised United States plan to defeat Islamic State.

Ambassador to NATO Mark Higgie represented Australia at talks in Brussels involving members of the US-led coalition who endorsed Barack Obama's revamped strategy to counter IS.

"I am very pleased to report there was unanimous support for the campaign plan's objectives, as well as for the concept of operations," US Defence Secretary Ash Carter said after the meeting.

The objectives include destroying IS's "parent tumour" in Iraq and Syria, combating its worldwide spread and protecting homelands.

The meeting at NATO headquarters received an update on progress to take back the IS-held Iraqi city of Mosul and Syrian city of Raqqa in coming months.

About 60 per cent of the military coalition members have vowed to increase their contributions, the remaining third awaiting the approval of their governments.

Australia's extra contribution includes boosted humanitarian assistance and an extra 20 to 30 defence personnel in coalition headquarters.

The Australian Defence Force is already making the second-largest military contribution to the effort in Iraq.

The meeting heard Dutch airstrikes would be extended from Iraq into Syria, and Canada would triple its training effort in northern Iraq and double its intelligence work.