Australian planes part of Syrian bombing raid

Australian Defence aircraft were part of a bombing raid in Syria that may have hit that country's military instead of Islamic State targets.

RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets conduct mid air refuelling from a RAAF KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport en route to the Middle East Region. Source: AAP

Australian Defence officials have offered condolences to the families of Syrian soldiers who may have been killed during a bombing raid on what was believed to be Islamic State targets.

Australian aircraft were among a group of international planes taking part in an operation near Dayr Az Zawr when Russian officials advised the targets may have been Syrian military personnel, Defence said in a statement on Sunday.

"While Syria remains a dynamic and complex operating environment, Australia would never intentionally target a known Syrian military unit or actively support Daesh (also known as ISIL)," Defence said.