Australia has dropped two bombs at targeted Islamic State (ISIL) locations, the first airstrike the country has launched since it approved the initiative, a security official said on Thursday.

The airstrike, carried out by the Australian Air Task Group, was launched from an F/A-18F Super Hornet jet overnight. All aircraft from the mission safely returned to headquarters, according to the Defence Ministry's statement.

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The Super Hornet is one of at least eight fighter aircraft Australia has deployed in the United Arab Emirates as part of its drive to help Iraqi forces combat the ISIL threat in the Middle East.

But like Britain, Belgium, Denmark, France and the Netherlands, Australia has limited military action to Iraq while the U.S. and other Arab partner states have been conducting strikes in Syria.

On Wednesday, Australian Air Defence Force Chief Marshall Mark Binskin said fighter jets had conducted missions in target ISIL locations on Sunday, but no artillery had been fired until now.

An ISIL vehicle had been targeted but the operation had not pushed through because of the potential risk to civilians, he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tony Abbott declared that 200 military consultants and special forces are to be deployed in the region primarily to aid Iraq in destroying the militant threat. The troops will provide advise and support for missions but will not engage in ground combat.

The troops will be sent once a legal guarantee issued by the Iraqi government is received.

With regard to the first-launched strikes, Abbott said the Australian air force was doing what they were sent to do but declined to provide further details.

Working with partner nations, it is important that Australia do its part to provide assistance to the Iraqi government and its people to liberate them from a "death cult," he added.

TagsCoalition against ISIL, Airstrikes, aviation, Carrier-based aircraft, Military aviation, Royal Australian Air Force