Australia was not involved in the coalition air strikes against Syria on Saturday but has strongly backed the “calibrated, proportionate and targeted” action taken by US President Donald Trump.
Defence Minister Marise Payne confirmed she had been briefed by US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis about the strikes and conveyed Australia’s full support for the bombing of three sites believed to be linked to the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons capability.
The strikes – unleashed by US, British and French forces on Saturday morning Australian time – were in response to a suspected chemical attack on the Syrian town of Douma last week which killed at least 70.
Australian strike fighters left the region in early January and were not involved in the operation. Australian military assets that were in the area were not utilised in the strikes.
Ms Payne emphasised Mr Mattis’ assurances that Saturday’s strikes were a “one time shot”, even as Mr Trump warned of potentially more action to come. She said she did not envisage further strikes “at this point in time” but did not rule out Australian participation in the future, if asked.