Australia's Defense Minister says the country is likely to conduct air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria until 2018. It came after Prime Minister Tony Abbott's revealed that Australia would be expanding its aerial operations into Syria, joining coalition forces in conducting air strikes against IS targets in the war-torn nation.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott also made the announcement that Australia will allocate more space in its annual quota of intake to those fleeing violence in Syria.

The country's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop signaled that refugees could start arriving in Australia from camps in Europe and the Middle East in a matter of "weeks". Bishop said resettlement would likely begin to occur by the end of "this year".

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