Flying ops over Iraq continue at Christmas

Australia's Middle East air task group will continue its fight against Islamic State terrorists in Iraq over Christmas.

There will be routine operations on Christmas Day, including flying combat missions to drop bombs on IS targets.

A large number of Australian defence personnel will be spending Christmas far from home.

They'll be in Afghanistan, aboard Australian ships and in Middle East support bases.

The air task group comprises 200 personnel, six Super Hornet combat aircraft, a KC-30 air-to-air refueling aircraft and a Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft which fly from the Australian support base in the United Arab Emirates.

Air Commodore Steve Roberton, commander of the air task group, said Christmas would just be another working day.

"It's going to be little different for the task group. There is a still a pretty big job to do and the people are pretty focused," he told AAP.

But defence would try to make Christmas Day as much fun as possible for the men and women in the Middle East.

"There will be a lot of people here up in the middle of the night, when they are not working, probably skyping home, watching kids and family open Christmas presents," Air Commodore Roberton said.

Then there will be the traditional defence Christmas dinner.