ADF bombs push back ISIL in Iraq

Australian forces fighting Islamic State forces in Iraq have helped claw back more than 800 square km of territory, Defence Minister Kevin Andrews says.

Mr Andrews told News Corp that operation OKRA had deployed 600 ADF troops to the Middle East since Australia's contribution to the combat mission began in September.

In the past month alone, Australia's air force had dropped 45 laser-guided and GPS-guided bombs against ISIL fighters and its logistics bases, he said.

Australia has also ramped up its strategic support with its air-to-air refuelling aircraft.

"The Daesh death cult is an assault on our very values and we must defeat it," Mr Andrews was quoted as saying.

More than 6000 ISIL fighters have been killed in Syria and Iraq since fighting began but its numbers have been swelling too, to as many as 31,500 fighters.