Australia is at risk of being caught in a stand-off between superpowers Russia and the US after Moscow launched a dramatic intervention in Syria.
The Defence Department yesterday said RAAF FA-18 Hornets would continue combat missions over Syria, even though Moscow had warned US-led coalition aircraft they should stay out of the nation.
The increasingly tense situation has sparked fears US or Australian jets might clash with Russian warplanes.
Russia shocked world leaders this week after it gave Washington one hour s notice that Russian aircraft would begin strikes against terrorist groups in Syria.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott gave the green light only last month for the RAAF to expand operations from Iraq to Syria.
Though Russia says it is targeting Islamic State militants, the US claims most of the air strikes carried out so far by Russian jets hit civilians and Syrian rebels opposed to the Assad regime. The Defence Department said there had been no pause on Australian operations over Syria.
 Australia intends to continue to conduct our air operations   as part of the international coalition   to combat (IS) in Syria,  a spokesman said.
  We have not made any changes to our air operations and do not intend to do so. We will continue to closely monitor the situation. 
 Australia has been operating mostly in the far eastern parts of Syria. Russian attacks are being carried out in the west.
But observers fear the increasingly tense situation could lead to clashes between Russian and coalition aircraft over Syria.
RAAF jets are thought to have carried out only a small number of strikes in Syria, with most missions in Iraq. 
When Mr Abbott committed forces to Syria, he brushed off suggestions Australia could be inserting itself in a far more complicated conflict involving Russia and the US.
WORLD  Russia strikes P77