Australian grandfather in tears at severed head photo

Officials have said up to 150 Australians are fighting alongside militants overseas, mostly in Iraq and Syria. Many other countries also have nationals in the war zones.

Canberra has previously confirmed that two Australians, including an 18-year-old, have already been behind deadly suicide bombings in the Iraq and Syria conflicts.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said jihadists whose “barbaric ideology” threatened Australia’s way of life would be discussed at security talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Sydney on Tuesday.

“Countries including in Europe, in Southeast Asia, in north Asia are concerned about citizens… fighting overseas in Iraq, in Syria and other conflicts, returning home as hardened, home-grown terrorists, extremists, capable of carrying out terrorist activity in our own countries,” she said.

In brief opening remarks at the annual Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN), Kerry agreed that “we do face new challenges”, pointing to foreign fighters who “learn jihadism and come back with bad intentions” as an issue of concern.