About 100 Australians fighting with extremists in Syria join terrorist group

There are about 100 Australians who are fighting with extremists in Syria have joined one of the world's deadliest terrorist group, The Australian newspaper reported Tuesday in its exclusive report.

The newspaper said during the past two months, Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) has received intelligence of Australian fighters in Syria joining the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a group responsible for summary executions and suicide bombings against civilians.

Earlier this month, Attorney-General George Brandis listed ISIL as a terrorist organisation. The newspaper said this move was the result of the new intelligence.

ISIL, formerly known and listed as al Qaida in Iraq, is considered one of the world's deadliest and most active terrorist organizations. It conducts daily, indiscriminate bomb attacks on civilians in Iraq, but recently has spread its operations to Syria where it now commands about 5,000 fighters. "ASIO believes this fast-growing group is attracting a sizable proportion of the estimated 100 Australians fighting with extremists in Syria, including many who had previously fought with another al Qaida affiliate, Jabhat al-Nusra." The Australian said in its report.

To list ISIL as a terrorist organization means that Australians caught fighting for the group could face up to 25 years' jail when they return to Australia.

The Australian Federal Police has described activities of Australians in Syria as "a real game-changer" that will increase the threat of violent jihad in Australia when those fighters return home radicalized and with combat experience.

Six Australians have been reportedly killed during the Syrian conflict, which has seen up to 11,000 foreign fighters involved in the war.

Two Sydney men, Hamdi Alqudsi, 39, and Amin Iman Mohamed, 23, were charged this month for allegedly forming part of a network that had facilitated the travel, or attempted travel, of at least six Australians to Syria. "The arrests indicated that the pipeline of Australian fighters traveling to Syria was more organized and sophisticated than was previously believed," The Australian commented.