13 Australians with IS Ties Plan Syria Camp Return

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed Wednesday that 13 Australians with ties to Islamic State, consisting of four women and nine children, have arranged plans to return from a detention camp in northern Syria.

The group has been held in camps such as al-Roj since the collapse of the Islamic State caliphate in 2019, following the death or capture of their male relatives, who fought for the group. Australian officials emphasized that the government is providing no assistance for their travel. Burke stated that law enforcement and intelligence agencies have maintained plans since 2014 to monitor any returning individuals.

"If any of these individuals find their way back to Australia, if they have committed crimes, they can expect to face the full force of the law," Burke said during a press conference in Canberra.

The women and children, all Australian citizens, recently fled the camp and traveled to Damascus in an effort to board flights home. Reports from late April indicated they had secured tickets and hoped to depart soon. Syrian authorities last week claimed the group was prevented from leaving because Australia refused to accept them, though the Australian government...