A WESTERN Sydney jihadist bound for the Middle East war zone has been put on a national security watch list after being detained at Sydney Airport on Sunday.

The Sydney man, described only as being 25-35 years old, was picked up by a new airport counter-terrorism unit, first revealed by The Daily Telegraph three weeks ago, as he tried to board a flight to Beirut with his family.

Sources confirmed he was stopped from leaving Australia and was issued with infringement notices related to terrorist-related material linked to the Islamic State in his luggage.

The sources said he had now been placed on an intelligence ­agency watch list.

MUSLIM LEADER OFFERS TO PAY RADICALS TO LEAVE AUSTRALIA

media_camera Five men who left Britain in October last year have been shown on CCTV footage leaving the UK to join the Islamic State under the guise of taking a vacation in Turkey / Picture: Supplied

Another potential terrorist with links to the Islamic State terrorist army fighting in Syria and Iraq was detained at Melbourne Airport the following day, also trying to board a plane for the Middle East.

The border crackdown came as American officials revealed President Barack Obama would make a decision on expanded air strikes, possibly with Australian military logistic support, against the Islamic State within days.

It also follows revelations in London that up to 30 radicalised British citizens a month are travel to Syria and Iraq to join IS fighters.

This week authorities released CCTV footage from Gatwick Airport showing five Britons — calling themselves the Britani Brigade Bangladeshi Bad Boys — posing as tourists and taking cheap flights to the Turkish resort town of Antalya in October last year. From there they easily made their way to the war zone in Syria to fight their “holy war”.

media_camera Federal police patrol Melbourne Airport yesterday / Picture: AAP media_camera Australian fugitive Khaled Sharrouf / Picture: Supplied

Yesterday, Prime Minister Tony Abbott told parliament one person had been detained in the three weeks since the establishment of the border protection unit aimed at ­securing airports and identifying ­potential national security threats. But it is understood several more people have since been denied exit from Australia after being found with terrorism-related material and large sums of cash believed to be ­intended for the IS army.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison told The Daily Telegraph: “Our border agencies have really stepped up to respond to the very real threats we now face, and they are now strongly supported with the policies and resources they were starved of under Labor.”

media_camera New units ... security has been upped at Melbourne and Sydney airports.

Mr Abbott’s revelations followed an admission by the departing head of ASIO, David Irvine, that suicide bombers were being groomed in Australia for terrorism in the Middle East.

Australian military support for the US operation appears contingent on reassurances that any action would not repeat the mistakes of the past.

One minister admitted there was ­reluctance to offer any support until a clear plan had been articulated by the US. The minister said there were concerns about becoming involved in another Middle East quagmire.

media_camera Home-grown threat ... around 60 Australians are believed to have joined the fighting in Syria.

The National Security Committee has met twice this week to discuss what level of military involvement Australia might offer after The Daily Telegraph revealed on ­Monday that discussions had been held between US and Australian ­defence officials.

Sources confirmed no request had been made for RAAF bombers, nor was one expected to be made.

Any Australian involvement was likely to involve air support and battle space management such as AWACS command aircraft and airborne refuellers.

Last night a spokesman for Mr Abbott ruled out combat troops joining the fray.

US media reported Australia and Britain would join the US in an air strike against sites in Syria and Iraq, with a coalition being formed by Mr Obama to eradicate the IS before it formed a recognised caliphate.

But a spokesman for the Prime Minister’s said last night no decision would be made until a formal request had been received.