A group of women and children linked to Islamic State fighters have been prevented from returning to Australia after being turned away from Syria's international airport. The 13 individuals, comprising four women and nine children, were en route to Damascus International Airport on Thursday when their vehicle was intercepted and redirected.
Failed Repatriation Attempt
The group had secured tickets for a flight back to Australia after leaving the Al-Roj internment camp in Syria's northeast. However, Syria's foreign ministry was informed that 'the Australian government had refused to receive' them, leading to their vehicle being turned around. Syria's information ministry stated, 'These families are still awaiting a solution, which can only be achieved through coordination with the relevant international parties.'
This was not the first attempt by this cohort to return. Individuals within the 34-strong group had previously tried to leave the camp in February, but those efforts were also thwarted by Syrian authorities.
Australian Government's Stance
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared at a news conference on Wednesday, 'We are providing no support for repatriation and no assistance for these people.' Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong, speaking from Beijing, reiterated that her government has made 'very clear that we are not assisting in their repatriation.'
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke reinforced the government's position on Thursday. 'We will not repatriate these individuals with assistance. These individuals, whether they choose to return, as citizens, can attempt to come back to Australia on their own, without any support from the Australian Government,' he told reporters. Burke added, 'I will leave it to the Australian Federal Police to make announcements, or not make announcements, as they see fit. There is no way I will interfere with anything operational. But I will say this: anyone who has broken the law will face the full force of the law. And I suspect that some of these individuals will be weighing up very carefully whether they ever want to return to Australia.'
Background on the Detainees
The women and children are among former Islamic State fighters and their families held in a network of camps and detention centers in northeast Syria since the militant group lost control of its territory in 2019. Despite its defeat, ISIS continues to maintain sleeper cells that carry out deadly attacks in Syria and Iraq.
