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Kurdish Authorities Release Last Australians from Syrian ISIL Camp
34 Australian relatives of ISIL fighters released from Syria’s Roj camp, set to fly to Australia. Government says security remains priority; law applies to any returning individuals.
ND
by News Desk
2026-02-16
Kurdish Authorities Release Last Australians from Syrian ISIL Camp

Kurdish authorities in northern Syria have handed over 34 Australian relatives of ISIL (ISIS) fighters held at the Roj camp, marking the departure of the last Australians from the facility. The evacuees are being escorted to Damascus before repatriation to Australia.

Hakmieh Ibrahim, a director at the Roj camp, confirmed the handover, saying: “Today, we are handing over 11 families who hold Australian nationality to their relatives. These families are the last Australians in the Roj camp.” A military escort accompanied buses transporting the families to Damascus.

The Roj and al-Hol camps have held thousands of people linked to ISIL since the extremist group lost its last territorial foothold in Syria in 2019. About 2,201 people from around 50 nationalities remain in Roj camp.

Australia’s government reiterated that it will not repatriate individuals from Syria directly and emphasized that any returning citizens who have committed crimes will face legal action. “The safety of Australians and the protection of Australia’s national interests remain the overriding priority,” the statement said.

The release comes amid growing concern over the deteriorating security situation in northeastern Syria. Humanitarian organisations, including Save The Children, have warned that tens of thousands of children in camps like Roj and al-Hol are at risk of exploitation and harm if countries fail to repatriate their nationals.

The UK has faced similar challenges, with the case of Shamima Begum—a British-born ISIL bride currently in Roj camp—highlighting the legal and humanitarian complexities of repatriation. Begum, whose UK citizenship was revoked in 2019, continues to reside in the camp despite appeals to restore her nationality.

As international governments weigh security and legal considerations, the release of Australians from Roj signals a rare but tightly controlled repatriation amid ongoing regional instability.
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Australia

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