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Last Australians leave al-Roj camp after years in limbo
Aircraft carrying six women and their children touched down in Melbourne and Sydney on Tuesday, concluding Australia's repatriation of citizens held in north-east Syria since 2019.
Arrival timeline
A Royal Australian Air Force jet landed at Melbourne Airport shortly after 16:30 (07:30 BST), carrying two women and their children. Approximately one hour later, a second flight arrived in Sydney with four women and their children, according to federal authorities.
The group had departed al-Roj camp on Thursday, transited through Damascus, and boarded commercial flights to Australia on Monday.
Legal and security backdrop
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that Canberra "has not and will not provide any assistance" to the returnees. He reiterated that individuals who committed crimes would face prosecution.
"These are people who made the horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organisation and to place their children in an unspeakable situation. Any members of this cohort who have committed crimes can expect to face the full force of the law."
Tony Burke, Home Affairs Minister
Burke confirmed that authorities have maintained contingency plans since 2014 to monitor and manage returnees.
Profiles of the returnees
Australian media identified the women as Kirsty Rosse-Emile, who left Australia at 19 and told the ABC last year that her presence in Syria was "not my choice." Also returning were Nesrine Zahab, who claimed she was deceived by her cousin, IS recruiter Muhammad Zahab; Sumaya Zahab, Muhammad's sister; and Aminah Zahab, his mother.
One additional woman, barred from re-entering Australia for two years on national security grounds, remains in Syria with her Australian-citizen child. The child holds a valid passport and is not subject to travel restrictions.
Recent precedent
On 7 May, three of four women repatriated with nine children were arrested and charged with crimes against humanity, joining IS, and entering a declared conflict zone. The fourth woman was not charged.
Camp conditions and closure
Al-Roj camp has housed families of IS fighters since 2019. Tuesday's repatriation marks the end of Australia's presence in the facility.
