Four Australian Women Linked to ISIS Face Arrest Upon Return from Syria with Nine Children

Key facts

• Four women and nine children, all Australian citizens, are returning from Syria to Australia on Thursday evening.
• The group left the Al Roj refugee camp in northern Syria in late April and traveled to Damascus.
• Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett confirmed some individuals will be arrested and charged upon arrival.
• Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke was alerted to the booked flights on Wednesday morning and made it public the same day.
• NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley confirmed one woman and one minor are scheduled to arrive in New South Wales.
• Operation Kurrajong, a joint ASIO and AFP taskforce, has been preparing for the return of Australians from Syria since 2015.
• Potential charges include terrorism offences and crimes against humanity, such as engaging in slave trading.

Return of ISIS-Linked Australians Triggers Arrests and Investigations

Four Australian women and nine children linked to the Islamic State group are returning from Syria on Thursday evening, with federal police warning that some will be arrested and charged upon arrival. The group, all Australian citizens holding valid passports, left the Al Roj refugee camp in late April and have now booked flights home, ending years of uncertainty about their fate. The Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett stated that some individuals will be arrested and charged, while others will face continued investigations. Children returning in the cohort will be required to undergo community integration programs, therapeutic support, and countering violent extremism programs, she added.

Government Confirms No Assistance Provided to Returning Group

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that the government was alerted to the group's planned departure on Wednesday morning and made it public the same day. He emphasized that the government has provided no assistance to the group, which was among a larger cohort of 34 Australian women and children stuck in the Al Roj camp since the territorial collapse of Islamic State. “These are people who have made the horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organisation and to place their children in an unspeakable situation,” Burke said. “As we have said many times – any members of this cohort who have committed crimes can expect to face the full force of the law.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed this stance, stating the group would not receive any assistance.

Legal Limits on Preventing Citizens' Return

Australian citizens cannot legally be prevented from returning to the country unless a formal exclusion order is in place. Burke has issued a single order to prevent one woman in Syria from returning, based on ASIO advice about a national security risk. He acknowledged the limitations on the government's ability to block the group's return, telling reporters, “There are very serious limits on what can be done with respect to preventing a citizen of a country returning to their country.” The group's return has been anticipated for years. Commissioner Barrett revealed that operational planning between ASIO, the AFP, and state and territory law enforcement began in 2015 under Operation Kurrajong to prepare for the return of Australians who traveled to Syria during the ISIS caliphate.

Evidence Collected in War Zone for Potential Prosecutions

Commissioner Barrett detailed the extensive evidence-gathering efforts, stating, “For more than a decade, investigators, when possible, have been collecting evidence and information in Syria at a time when Syria was a war zone with no functioning government.” This evidence is intended to determine whether Australians who traveled to Syria may have committed Commonwealth offences, including terrorism offences such as entering or remaining in declared areas, and crimes against humanity offences, such as engaging in slave trading. Barrett declined to specify how many individuals would be arrested or when, to protect ongoing investigations. However, she confirmed that some Australians, upon return, would be arrested immediately.

NSW to Receive Two Returnees as State Police Prepare

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley confirmed that one woman and one minor from the group are scheduled to arrive in New South Wales. “This is an operational matter for the NSW Police, but I can assure this House the NSW police and the Australian Federal Police are working closely together,” she told parliament. The group's arrival marks a significant development in Australia's handling of citizens who joined ISIS. The women and children are among the last Australian nationals remaining in Syrian camps, and their return has been a complex issue involving security, legal, and humanitarian considerations.

Long-Term Planning and Uncertain Future for Returnees

Operation Kurrajong, established in 2015, reflects the long-term planning by Australian authorities for the eventual return of citizens from the conflict zone. Despite this preparation, the exact number of arrests and charges remains unclear, with Commissioner Barrett stating she would not flag details to protect investigations. The returning children will be subject to community integration and countering violent extremism programs, but the long-term outcomes for the adults remain uncertain. The government's hardline stance, as articulated by Burke and Albanese, signals that prosecutions are likely, but the legal process will unfold over time.

Stakes High as Australia Faces Security and Humanitarian Challenges

The return of the 13 individuals underscores the ongoing challenges posed by the remnants of the Islamic State group and the fate of foreign fighters and their families. Australia's approach—refusing assistance but preparing for prosecutions—reflects a delicate balance between national security and legal obligations to citizens. As the group lands on Thursday, the focus will shift to the immediate arrests and the subsequent investigations. The case is likely to set precedents for how Australia handles other citizens still in Syria, with 21 other Australian women and children reportedly remaining in camps.

The bottom line

• Four women and nine children, all Australian citizens, are returning from Syria on Thursday evening, with some facing immediate arrest and charges.
• The group left the Al Roj refugee camp in late April and traveled to Damascus before booking flights to Australia.
• Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the government was alerted on Wednesday and made it public, but provided no assistance.
• Potential charges include terrorism offences and crimes against humanity, such as slave trading, based on evidence collected since 2015 under Operation Kurrajong.
• One woman and one minor are scheduled to arrive in New South Wales, with state and federal police coordinating.
• The government has issued only one exclusion order to prevent a woman in Syria from returning, highlighting legal limits on blocking citizens.