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Australian Man Killed Fighting Islamic State: Reports

He was aged 45.
An Image of Jamie Bright being shared by Kurdish Militia in Syria.
Supplied
An Image of Jamie Bright being shared by Kurdish Militia in Syria.

An Australian man has reportedly been killed while fighting against Islamic State in Syria.

The Australian government is yet to confirm reports Australian volunteer soldier Jamie Bright died last week in the northern Raqqa countryside, according to claims made on social media accounts belonging to Kurdish military units.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was unable to confirm the death on Monday, but said it was a reminder about the dangers of Australians joining overseas conflicts.

"Australians must understand that if they go and fight in conflicts like that, they are breaking Australian law and if they come back within Australia's jurisdiction they will be held to account for that," he said.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the government had a limited capacity o confirm reports of deaths in Syria.

"Due to the exceptionally dangerous security situation, DFAT is not able to provide consular assistance in Syria, which is listed as a 'do not travel' destination in DFAT's travel advice."

Reports suggest he was killed alongside other soldiers fighting against Islamic State militants in Syria.

Bright has appeared in recent propaganda videos thought to be published by Kurdish militia.

"The reason I came to Kurdistan is because of the people, their struggle and their fight," Bright said in one video.

"I came to help them in any way I can."

In February 2015 former Australian soldier Ashley Johnston was killed fighting against IS militants in north-eastern Syria.

Johnston, originally from Queensland, was killed during an assault by Kurdish forces on an IS position near Tel Hamis.

He had travelled to the Middle East in 2014 to join the Kurdish YPG "self-protection" forces, the ABC reports.

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