Tony Abbott wanted more ground troops in Iraq

Tony Abbott has admitted he would have sent ground troops to fight Islamic State during his term as Australia’s prime minister if the US had asked him.

"I certainly would have been prepared as prime minister to look sympathetically at any American request for special operations forces on the ground but by the time that was being urgently considered, I was no longer prime minister," Mr Abbott told the West Australian.

Mr Abbott increased Australia's military presence in Iraq during his time as prime minister in response to the growing threat of ISIL.

He also called for urgent engagement with moderate Muslims, citing NRL icon Hazem El-Masri and Australia Post chief executive Ahmed Fahour.

"The difficultly is there is a significant strain of Islam that takes Koranic injunctions about death to the infidels too seriously," he said.

Mr Abbott's comments come two days after Malcolm Turnbull announced expanded operations in Iraq.

More Australian forces will travel to Iraq to train police and border guards.