Australian ISIS-linked women and children leave Syrian camp for Damascus, seeking repatriation
Consensus Summary
A group of four Australian women and nine children with ties to former Islamic State fighters successfully left the al-Roj detention camp in Syria on April 25, 2026, traveling to Damascus in an attempt to return home. This follows a failed repatriation attempt in February 2026, when 11 women and 23 children were turned back after two hours due to coordination issues. The Australian government, led by Deputy PM Richard Marles, has repeatedly stated it will not assist in repatriating these citizens, despite issuing passports to some. Seven women and 14 children remain in the camp, which is controlled by the Kurdish-led SDF and being transferred to the Syrian government. Conditions in the camp have deteriorated, with outbreaks of disease and ongoing radicalization risks. The US has urged allies to repatriate their citizens, while Australia has only repatriated orphans and a small group in 2022, abandoning further plans due to political concerns. The women’s identities, including Zeinab Ahmed and Kawsar Abbas, were previously revealed by the ABC, and some claim they were deceived into traveling to Syria.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Four Australian women (Zeinab Ahmed, Kawsar Abbas, Zahra Ahmed, Janai Safar) and nine of their children/grandchildren left al-Roj camp in Syria on April 25, 2026, traveling to Damascus.
- Seven Australian women and 14 children remain in al-Roj camp as of April 25, 2026.
- The Australian government has refused to assist in repatriating these citizens, with Deputy PM Richard Marles stating 'This government is not participating in the repatriation of people in this circumstance' on April 25, 2026.
- The women and children have been held in al-Roj camp for over six years, with some children born in the camp.
- A previous repatriation attempt by 11 women and 23 children in February 2026 failed after two hours due to lack of coordination with Syrian government forces.
- The al-Roj camp is controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and is being handed over to the Syrian government.
- One Australian woman was issued a Temporary Exclusion Order (TEO) to prevent her return to Australia.
- The US has described Syrian detention camps as 'incubators for radicalisation' and has withdrawn funding, pushing allies to repatriate citizens.
- Australia previously repatriated eight orphaned children in 2019 and four women with 13 children in 2022.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in February 2026 he had 'no sympathy' for the plight of the women and children.
- Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated Australia is under a legal obligation to provide the group with passports.
- The opposition proposed new criminal offences for anyone trying to help the women and children or those with IS links.
- The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on April 24, 2026, that 17 members of the group were preparing to leave the camp.
- The ABC revealed the identities of the women in the camp after seeing a handwritten list of their names in February 2026.
- Some women claim they were lured to Syria under false pretences.
- Syrian government forces loyal to Ahmed al-Sharaa are sweeping through territory previously controlled by the SDF, including areas near al-Hol camp.
- Al-Roj camp director Hakmiyeh Ibrahim stated 'the coordination was perfect' for the repatriation, done between the SDF and Syrian government.
- Ibrahim said there are currently no plans for the remaining Australians to leave the camp, but they are in contact with other countries for potential releases.
- Conditions in al-Roj include outbreaks of dysentery and influenza, with IS incursions targeting the camp.
- The US funds security operations in north-east Syria through the SDF and wants the camp closed.
- In 2024, Clare O’Neil (then home affairs minister) prepared a repatriation plan for cabinet but abandoned it due to concerns over backlash in marginal seats in western Sydney.
- Two women and four children escaped al-Hol camp in October 2025, returning to Australia via Lebanon on a commercial flight.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The ABC states the February 2026 repatriation attempt failed due to a 'tip-off to the media,' while the Guardian attributes it to 'lack of coordination with the Syrian government.'
- The Guardian claims the Australian government has 'refused to assist citizens in returning home' since 2022, while the ABC notes that Australia issued passports to the group in 2022 and 2026.
- The Guardian says the camp is a 'regular target for IS incursions,' while the ABC does not mention this specific detail in its report.
- The ABC reports that the Syrian government accused the SDF of abandoning posts at major prisons, leading to IS breakouts, but the Guardian does not mention this accusation.
Source Articles
Australian women and children leave Syrian detention camp for Damascus – and potentially home
Repatriation attempt comes after group was turned around when leaving camp in February. Albanese government says it’s not assisting cohort Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Four Australian women and nine of their children and grandchildren have left al-Roj camp in north-east Syria, seeking to return to Australia. The group is reportedly travelling across Syria by road to the capital Damascus, under the control of the Syrian government. Continue reading...
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