Hanna Yussef dreams of following thousands of fellow Iraqi Christians to refuge in Europe, abandoning a precarious existence in Jordan, where he has lived since fleeing Islamist violence at home.

But he's staying put for now because he can't afford the money needed for the perilous crossing by sea and, equally as important, because he can't swim.

Australia's new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull Wednesday admitted he had concerns about asylum seekers being held in Pacific island camps, but gave no indication of immediate change to the hardline policy.

All asylum seekers coming by boat to Australia are sent to camps in Papua New Guinea and Nauru and ultimately denied resettlement in Australia even if they are found to be genuine refugees.

A growing number of "disillusioned" Islamic State fighters are defecting from the jihadist group and could be used by governments to deter potential recruits, a report published Monday said.

At least 58 people have left the group and publicly spoken about their defection since January 2014, according to the report by the International Centre for the Study of Radicalization and Political Violence (ISCR) at King's College London.

Travelers using Australia's international airports faced delays Monday and were warned of more to come as immigration and border force workers went on strike over pay and conditions.

Morning peak-hour travel was held up with long queues forming in Sydney, which along with airports in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin, Coolangatta and Cairns experienced two-hour stoppages when staff walked out.

The man tipped to become Australia's next treasurer Scott Morrison in a looming cabinet reshuffle angrily defended himself against accusations Friday he had betrayed former prime minister Tony Abbott.

Social Services Minister Morrison rejected the idea that he had made a deal with new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull so he could be promoted after the political assassination of Abbott.

Australia's new leader Malcolm Turnbull said Wednesday he was committed to having more women in top positions, as he prepares to unveil a cabinet that will replace a line-up criticized for poor female representation.

Under former premier Tony Abbott the 19-member cabinet included just two women, and Abbott himself was responsible for women's policies, a move that rankled after he had been accused of sexist and outdated thinking.

Australian warplanes have carried out their first air strike against Islamic State group in Syria, destroying an armored personnel carrier, Defense Minister Kevin Andrews said Wednesday.

"This is part of our logical extension in the fight against Daesh to operate not just over northern Iraq but also to operate over eastern Syria in order to degrade and destroy Daesh Forces," the minister told reporters using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

Multi-millionaire former banker Malcolm Turnbull was sworn in Tuesday as Australia's fourth prime minister in just over two years, promising to create a dynamic new economy and end the divisive approach of his predecessor.

Turnbull, unlike the ousted Tony Abbott, is a moderate on social issues who supports gay marriage and making Australia a republic -- positions at odds with some members of his conservative Liberal Party.

Australian aircraft have completed their first operation in Syria, defense officials said Saturday, just days after Canberra extended the mission from Iraq to better fight Islamic State jihadists.

"The Australian Air Task Group completed its first operational mission in Syria overnight, returning to base in the Middle East without incident," the defense department said in a statement.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Wednesday bowed to pressure to increase refugee numbers in the face of the Middle East crisis and confirmed Canberra will also join U.S.-led air strikes on the Islamic State group in Syria.

With his hardline against asylum-seekers under intense scrutiny given the drama unfolding in Europe, Abbott said the government was acting "with our head as well as with our heart" to help the thousands of migrants fleeing the conflict.