The jihadist group has specifically named a number of Australian landmarks and cities for potential attacks in its newest magazine.
So far published in seven languages including English, Russian, Pashto, Turkish, French, German and Uyghur, the first issue of Islamic State’s new magazine "Rumiyah" - meaning Rome - has named venues in Sydney and Melbourne as potential targets.
The Sydney and Melbourne suburbs of Brunswick, Broadmeadows, Bankstown and Bondi are mentioned, as well as the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Opera House.
IS has called for its followers to violently kill people at those venues, or even in someone's backyard.
However counter-terrorism expert, Dr Clarke Jones from the Australian National University, believes it is not cause for new concern.
"Oh not at all, I think we've seen that repeatedly happen over the last couple of years and we certainly got a robust policing and security arrangements to deter any types of attacks on those sorts of targets. So I don't think it raises any concern,” Dr Jones told SBS.
“It's interesting that they're doing that and whether they're trying to reach out to some support base in Australia, but it's certain that Daesh or Islamic State don't have any strong, solid networks in Australia so it's not of any real concern."
Australia has been one of the key members targeting IS in Syria and Iraq via a United States-led bombing coalition. Last month, a report from a US Homeland Security committee ranked Australia as Islamic State's third-top target among western countries.
Australian counter-terrorism and defence experts believe after losing ground in Syria and Iraq, Islamic State is weakened and worried. (AAP) Source: AAP
Middle East affairs and international relations expert, Dr Anthony Billingsley from the University of New South Wales, said our role in the Middle East is the reason is why Australia had been singled out in the magazine.
"Look I think there are a number of things. One is that Islamic State did not start targeting areas outside the Iraq-Syria and, well, Saudi Arabia I suppose area, until we started attacking them. So there is an extent to which they're responding, and they're targeting those who are involved in action against Islamic State,” Dr Billingsley said.
“There's also the issue that they've been going through a difficult time of late, they've been losing ground all over the place. So I think there's also an element that they're trying to demonstrate that they can strike anywhere still."
'In a state of desperation'
After losing key strongholds such as Jarablus and Manbij in Syria, and the pending fall of Mosul, Dr Jones said IS - also known as Daesh - is starting to get desperate.
He explained the group's focus on its highly successful online and social media strategy has now increased.
"Daesh is certainly in a state of desperation, and that would indicate there's been some significant success against them in Syria and Iraq, and sort of reaching out to any existing support bases around the world is an indication of their struggle," he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Billingsley believes in an attempt to show its strength, IS is now even more focused on radicalising foreign fighters.
"There will be people that will respond to this for whatever reason, and it's probably very difficult for the security service, police, etc. to keep tabs on the so-called lone wolfs,” he said.
“If you remember the terrible bombings in Paris quite some time ago, people started saying then this is a sign Islamic State is lashing out as a sign of desperation. But it's also I think perhaps an attempt to just suck the West in because they're no longer able to deliver."
“We’ve seen time and time again that not only through these magazines, but through social media and through the internet, promoting or trying to get vulnerable young people to act out and I think that’s the greatest concern for authorities because we don’t sort of understand who might be next,” said Dr Jones.
A military or diplomatic solution?
Australia has steadily increased its military role against IS, last week announcing it will overhaul domestic laws to allow the defence force to target more fighters without the risk of aircrews being prosecuted.
But Dr Billingsley believes the best way to defeat IS and its influence - in Syria and abroad - is if Australia worked harder at finding a diplomatic solution in Syria.
“That’s where we should be pushing as hard as possible, not so much beefing up our military but trying as hard as we can to play a role on a diplomatic level,” Dr Billingsley said.
And Dr Jones said the most effective strategy to reduce the risk of foreign fighters on our shores is through greater community engagement with at risk youths.
"In terms of long term strategies I think the government can be doing a lot more," he said.
“Where the efforts need to be made is through serious community engagement and working for solutions with the community rather than telling the community what they need to do."
