Australia Says 13 IS-Linked Citizens, Including Four Women And Nine Children, Will Fly Home From Syria

Australia says 13 IS-linked citizens plan to fly back from Syria, including four women and nine children who have been living in Syria's Roj camp. Authorities say the returnees are expected to arrive at airports in Sydney and Melbourne on Thursday, after Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said he received an alert when the group's travel booking was made. Burke warned the group would receive no government assistance, saying, "They made an appalling, disgraceful decision." Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said some individuals will face arrests and criminal charges upon arrival, while others could remain under investigation and children would be put in community reintegration and support programs.

“A cohort of Islamic State-linked families have confirmed plans to return to Australia, the home affairs minister says”

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As the group prepares to leave the Roj camp, Australian police say some members of the cohort due to arrive imminently will be arrested over alleged links to the ISIL armed group. Krissy Barrett told reporters that some members would be taken into custody upon arrival, while others remain under active investigation, and she said the children would receive psychological support and participate in programmes focused on countering violent extremism and community integration. Burke condemned the women for travelling to Syria and warned that anyone found to have committed offences would face prosecution, saying, "If any of these individuals find their way back to Australia, if they have committed crimes, they can expect to face the full force of the law, without exception." The government also emphasized legal constraints, with Burke saying there were "very serious" legal limits on preventing Australian citizens from returning to the country.

Australia’s position is that it will not repatriate the group, even as it prepares to monitor them and pursue law enforcement action if crimes are found. The Vietnam.vn report says the Albanian prime minister stated, "We are maintaining our very firm position: we will provide no help nor any repatriation," while also acknowledging that "Unfortunately, the children are also affected by this, but we are not providing them with any support." In parallel, the DW report says Australian authorities collected evidence in Syria as they probed whether Australians had committed crimes under Australian law, including travelling to a prohibited area and being involved in slave trade. The stakes described by Australian officials center on whether returnees face arrests, criminal charges, or continued investigations, and on how children are handled through community reintegration and support programs.