Australia has formally rejected a request from the United States for more military help to tackle the "Islamic State" (ISIS) terrorist group, arguing it had already made a "substantial" contribution to the fight, AFP reports.
US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter in December asked coalition partners battling the jihadists and other militants in Iraq and Syria for a greater
commitment following the Paris attacks in which 130 people were killed.
AustralianPrime Minister Malcolm Turnbull signalled at the time that there was no appetite for such a move and Defense Minister Marise Payne said Australia's current commitment was sufficient.