The Turnbull government says it has no plans to follow America's lead and put troops on the ground in Syria.

The Obama administration has given approval for almost 50 special forces troops to be deployed to the war-ravaged nation in the latest escalation in the fight against Islamic State militants.

President Barack Obama has authorised sending US Special Forces troops to northern Syria in the fight against Islamic State. Credit:AP

But Finance Minister Mathias Cormann on Saturday said Australia had no plans to follow suit.

"Australia obviously supports international efforts to degrade and ultimately defeat the ISIS threat," he told Sky News.