Four women and nine children with links to the Islamic State have booked flights to return to Australia from a Syrian refugee camp. A government minister confirmed the travel arrangements this week. The group includes Australian citizens with documented ties to the Islamic State.
The families are currently in the al-Roj camp in north-eastern Syria. Security agencies are now preparing for their arrival. The government has not yet specified the exact date the first flight will depart.
The shift in policy
This decision marks a significant change in how the federal government handles high-risk cases. A government minister confirmed the travel arrangements this week. The news follows a period of intense debate regarding the safety of repatriating families from the al-Roj camp.
All relevant departments will monitor the repatriation process as the families move toward Australian borders. The group includes four women and nine children. They are preparing to land on Australian soil.
What happens next
Security agencies are preparing for the arrival of the group. The government has not yet specified the exact date the first flight will depart from Syria. All relevant departments will monitor the repatriation process as the families move toward Australian borders.
The decision places a spotlight on the complex legal and security challenges facing the federal government. These individuals prepare to land on Australian soil soon.
