Lieutenant General David Morrison, Australia's Chief of Army, said on Tuesday that the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as Daesh, might be part of a "long war," giving a dire warning of protracted conflicts that could drag on for decades.

Morrison's remarks coincided with the airstrikes launched by the United States and five Arab allies including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates against Islamic State targets in the group's stronghold in Raqqa.

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In his speech on Tuesday, the Australian general said the on-going offensive against the Islamist group might eventually become one lengthy war that could pose serious "existential challenges." He said he wonders whether humanity is in the early days of war and confirmed, with tones of desperation, that it has indeed plunged itself into one.

In a separate interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, the general expounded on his remarks saying Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria have seen 15 years of war among themselves. This, he said, is indicative of what the future would be like.

General Morrison added that there would likely be no operational pause in combatting the militants in the Middle East and military operations are likely to eventually expand to air, sea and land campaigns.

Tthe U.S.-led air campaign on Monday and early Tuesday in Syria had already sent Tomahawk missiles from destroyers stationed in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, ABC News reported.

As General Morrison delivered his message, the air raids were closing in on Islamic State targets in Aleppo and near the Iraq border.

The mission successfully hit 20 Islamic State targets in Syria, including command and control facilities, training compounds, storage facilities, headquarters, and armed vehicles, Pentagon reported.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott confirmed that Australia was not involved in the Monday anti-Islamic State offensive, but avoided ruling out future involvement, Sydney Morning Herald reported.

TagsDaesh, long war, Airstrikes, Iraq, David Morrison