Australia Prepares for Return of Daesh-Linked Citizens from Syria
Australian authorities are preparing for the return of 13 Australian citizens, including families with children, who are currently detained in Syria due to their alleged links to the Daesh terrorist organization.
SYDNEY - The Australian government has announced that it is prepared to receive 13 Australian citizens, including four women and nine children, who are currently being held in a Syrian camp due to their alleged connections with Daesh.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasized that the government will not provide any assistance to these individuals, stating that they made 'appalling and disgraceful decisions' by joining or staying with the terrorist group.
Burke highlighted that while there are 'very serious limits' on preventing Australian citizens from re-entering the country, those who are suspected of criminal activities will face severe legal consequences.
Law enforcement and intelligence agencies in Australia have been preparing for such returns since 2014, maintaining contingency plans to manage individuals linked to extremeist groups.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett confirmed that some returning Australians could be arrested and charged upon arrival, while others may remain under investigation.
Children will undergo community reintegration and support programs.
The situation stems from a period between 2012 and 2016 when several Australian women traveled to Syria to join their husbands who had allegedly joined Daesh.
Following the collapse of the caliphate in 2019, these individuals were detained in camps, with some returning home while others remained in facilities such as the Al-Hol camp near the Iraqi border.
In January 2026, the United States began relocating Daesh members from Syria after the dissolution of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which had been guarding around a dozen facilities holding detainees.
By February 2026, fewer than 1,000 families remained in northeast Syria's camps that were used to detain relatives of suspected Daesh militants.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasized that the government will not provide any assistance to these individuals, stating that they made 'appalling and disgraceful decisions' by joining or staying with the terrorist group.
Burke highlighted that while there are 'very serious limits' on preventing Australian citizens from re-entering the country, those who are suspected of criminal activities will face severe legal consequences.
Law enforcement and intelligence agencies in Australia have been preparing for such returns since 2014, maintaining contingency plans to manage individuals linked to extremeist groups.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett confirmed that some returning Australians could be arrested and charged upon arrival, while others may remain under investigation.
Children will undergo community reintegration and support programs.
The situation stems from a period between 2012 and 2016 when several Australian women traveled to Syria to join their husbands who had allegedly joined Daesh.
Following the collapse of the caliphate in 2019, these individuals were detained in camps, with some returning home while others remained in facilities such as the Al-Hol camp near the Iraqi border.
In January 2026, the United States began relocating Daesh members from Syria after the dissolution of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which had been guarding around a dozen facilities holding detainees.
By February 2026, fewer than 1,000 families remained in northeast Syria's camps that were used to detain relatives of suspected Daesh militants.
