Australia will continue to take part in coalition airstrikes in the Middle East despite a botched operation involving Australian jets, in which more than 90 Syrian government soldiers were accidentally killed, the nation's defence minister has confirmed.

     Late on Monday, Australia's Defence Minister Marise Payne said while the operation involving coalition jets was unfortunate and would be the subject of a rigorous internal review process, Australia's participation in the region would continue.

     She admitted any further airstrike action in the Middle East would be "measured" and "appropriate".

     "I'm not going to break (the botched operation) down piece-by-piece because I think it is the subject of a review," Payne told the press late on Monday.

     "We will continue in an appropriate, measured way with the international coalition, to do what is required, but there has been no holders as such put on Australian activity."

     The decision for the Australian military to involve itself in airstrikes in Syrian and Iraq has drawn ire from a number of opposition and independent Parliamentary colleagues. Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said blood was on the hands of the Australian government following the incident.

     "I don't think we can continually turn our eyes away from Australian government culpability in setting this situation up in the first place," Ludlam said.

     Currently, Australia's contribution to the coalition operation involves F/A-18 Hornets, a high-tech Wedgetail command and control aircraft and an air-to-air refueling tanker.  Enditem

Source:
courtesy of XINHUA NEWS AGENCY

by XinHua News Agency

If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]