Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has urged more European nations to bomb Islamic State (IS) terrorists and help end the fighting that is driving a growing mass of refugees towards the European Union.

Ms Bishop said 40 per cent of the asylum seekers trying to reach Europe were fleeing Syria, and suggested extra bombing raids could help slow the flow of asylum seekers.

"There's more countries can do in terms of supporting the air strikes which are proving effective in stopping Daesh (Islamic State) from claiming territory off sovereign governments," she said.

The Federal Government is currently considering a United States request to expand Australia's operations against the IS group from Iraq into Syria.

Cabinet's national security committee will meet this week to discuss the issue.

Ms Bishop said more involvement from Europe and other countries would also ease the pressure on some Middle Eastern nations.

"The crisis that is unfolding in Europe will focus their attention. This humanitarian crisis is unprecedented," Ms Bishop said, referring to the number of refugees fleeing the Middle East.

"It will focus their attention on trying to resolve the situation at its source and that will include a military and political solution in both Syria and Iraq."

Coalition nations which have conducted air strikes in Iraq include Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States.

Coalition nations which have conducted airstrikes in Syria include Bahrain, Canada, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the US.