The federal government is believed to be considering ways of extracting the imperilled orphans of Tara Nettleton and Khaled Sharrouf, as well as a grandchild, who remain stranded in the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa in Syria.
Fourteen-year-old Zynab is likely to have been left as the family elder to her five, 10, 11 and 13-year-old siblings, as well as her own baby girl, in violent Raqqa.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Australian authorities were unable to confirm reports on Thursday that Tara Nettleton had died in Syria in September from complications stemming from an appendix operation.
"If confirmed, this is a tragic circumstance for the children, who are in a war zone through no fault of their own," Ms Bishop said, describing them as "victims of their parents' extremist ideology and reckless decision to travel to Syria".
"Due to the extremely dangerous security situation there, the Australian government has no capacity to confirm Nettleton's death, and no capacity to provide consular assistance to the children."
It's understood, however, that Australian authorities believe the children could be assisted if they were able to reach the Turkish border.
Whether that is at all possible is unclear.
