About 40 Australian citizens, mostly children, remain in locked camps in North East Syria. These individuals are the wives and children of men who joined the Islamic State. Conditions in these camps are poor, with reports of children suffering from hunger, untreated wounds, and growth problems. While the United States government has offered to use its military to help move these people out of Syria, the Australian government has chosen not to take this offer.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently stated that Australia will not assist in bringing these people home. This decision follows years of legal battles and private meetings between government officials and human rights groups. The situation has become more urgent because of recent fighting in Syria, which makes the camps less safe. The government remains focused on national security, while groups like Save the Children argue that young children should not be punished for the choices of their parents.
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Timeline of Events and Key Figures
The situation involves a mix of legal actions, private talks, and changes in the safety of the region.
September 2023: Save the Children Australia starts a legal case to force the government to bring the children home.
November 2023: The Federal Court rejects the case. The court says it cannot force the government to act.
December 2024: The government in Syria falls. This makes the region more dangerous for the guards at the Al-Roj and Al-Hol camps.
Late 2025: Documents show Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke met with advocates. The United States offered to fly the Australians out if Australia gave them passports.
February 2026: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirms Australia will do "nothing to assist" or bring these people back.
Key Actors:
Anthony Albanese: Prime Minister of Australia.
Tony Burke: Minister for Home Affairs.
Mat Tinkler: CEO of Save the Children Australia.
Sussan Ley: Deputy Opposition Leader.
Evidence of Government Refusal and Health Data
Official documents and court filings show a clear gap between what human rights groups want and what the government is willing to do.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| People Left Behind | 14 Australian women and between 20 to 34 children. |
| Health Reports | Children have rickets, shrapnel wounds, and dental decay. |
| US Offer | The US military offered to transport the group home. |
| Passport Issue | The AU government refused to issue passports, which stopped the US from helping. |
| Official Stance | The PM stated: "We are doing nothing to repatriate or assist these people." |
The core issue is a lack of travel documents. Even with the US military ready to help, the Australian government has not issued the passports needed for the citizens to leave Syria.
The Security Argument vs. Humanitarian Need
The Australian government and the political opposition often focus on the danger these individuals might pose if they return.
Security Concerns: Some politicians argue that women who lived with the Islamic State could be a risk to the public. Intelligence agencies are kept on high alert regarding this group.
Humanitarian Concerns: Save the Children argues that the children are innocent victims. They report that many children are "terrified" and living in "crippling pain" without medicine.
The Middle Ground: Is there a way to bring children back safely without their mothers, or does the law require they stay together?
The "Secret" Meetings and the US Offer
In late 2025, it was discovered that Minister Tony Burke held meetings that were not made public at first.
The Discovery: Leaked documents showed Tony Burke met with advocates twice in 2025.
The US Offer: During these talks, it was revealed that the United States was willing to help. US Admiral Brad Cooper called the camp situation an "issue of global security" and urged countries to take their citizens back.
The Rejection: Despite this help, the Australian government did not give the group the travel papers they needed. Sussan Ley from the opposition has asked the Minister to explain why these meetings were kept quiet.
Life Inside the Al-Roj Camp
The camps in North East Syria are described by visitors as very difficult places to live.
Health: Many children are "stunted," meaning they are too small for their age because they do not have enough food.
Violence: With fewer guards available due to the war in Syria, there is a fear that older boys may be taken away from their mothers by armed groups.
Legal Status: Because the mothers and children are in Syria, they cannot easily talk to lawyers. This is why Save the Children acted as a "litigation guardian" to speak for them in court.
Expert Analysis
Mat Tinkler, CEO of Save the Children Australia, has been vocal about the government's choice:
"The Australian government has a moral and legal duty to bring these children home. They are suffering from wounds and trauma that no child should have to face."
Sussan Ley, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, takes a different view of the government's private talks:
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"The Minister needs to explain his secret meetings about bringing former ISIS members back to Australia. The public deserves to know what is being planned."
Investigator’s Note: Is the refusal to issue passports a legal way for the government to avoid a duty to protect its citizens? While the government is legally required to give passports to citizens who qualify, they have not done so in this case, citing security and the lack of an Australian presence on the ground in Syria.
Summary of Findings
The investigation shows that the Australian government has made a firm decision to stop help for its citizens in Syria. While the United States has offered the planes and security to move the women and children, the process cannot start without Australian travel papers.
The government maintains that national security is the priority. However, medical reports show that the children in the camps are becoming more ill as time passes. With the security situation in Syria getting worse, the window for a safe return may be closing. The next steps remain with the Federal Government, which has shown no sign of changing its current path.
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Sources Used
The Guardian (Live Blog): PM insists Australia will do ‘nothing to assist or repatriate’ women and children. Link
SBS News: Urgent calls to repatriate 'terrified' Australian women and children from Syria. Link
Daily Mail: The secret mission to bring ISIS brides back to Australia. Link
News.com.au: Burke lashed after new ISIS brides details emerge. Link
Sydney Morning Herald: Australia leaves the fate of its IS brides to the American army. Link
Save the Children: Landmark legal case to repatriate Australian children. Link
The Epoch Times: Tony Burke Held ‘Secret’ Meetings on Return of ISIS-Linked Australians. Link
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