A group of 19 Australian women and children, who've been held in Syria since the defeat of Islamic State, have arrived in Melbourne and Sydney. This marks the end of seven years of detention for them. It's a development that thrusts them into a heated debate about their future. The group consists of 12 children and seven women, most of whom either left Australia over a decade ago or were born in Syria or Iraq after their parents traveled to the so-called caliphate.

The women and children left a Syrian detention camp last week. They then boarded flights back to Australia. A flight carrying some of the group arrived in Melbourne just after 4:30 pm on Tuesday. Another flight arrived in Sydney about an hour later. The women who landed in Melbourne had separately exited the airport through a side door by 6:40 pm. They evaded most of the TV cameras, photographers, and reporters waiting at the arrivals gate for them.

There was a small police presence in the arrivals hall. A New South Wales police spokesperson told media on Tuesday evening that they don't expect to arrest any of the women arriving in Sydney. The Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, said on Tuesday morning that security agencies have been preparing for their return since 2014. They've got longstanding plans in place to manage and monitor them.

“These are people who've made the horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organisation,” he said.

“They've placed their children in an unspeakable situation.”

“As we've said many times, any members of this cohort who've committed crimes can expect to face the full force of the law.”

“The priority of the government, as always, is the safety of the Australian community.”

The Sydney group is expected to include Nesrine, Sumaya, and Aminah Zahab and Hyam Raad, along with their children. Aminah is the mother of Muhammad Zahab, who was considered to be a senior member of IS. He recruited over a dozen family members before he was killed in 2018. He reportedly convinced Aminah and his sister Sumaya to also travel to Syria.

Nesrine Zahab has said she was 21 when she and a female cousin sneaked away from a family holiday in Lebanon. They went to help refugees on the Turkish side of the Syrian border. She claimed she had no intention of entering the war-torn country. The group returning to Melbourne was expected to include Kawsar Kanj and her five children, one of whom is now an adult. Kirsty Rosse-Emile and her two children were also part of the group.

Kanj and her husband, Majed Raad, traveled with three children to Syria from Melbourne’s northern suburbs in 2014. They didn't have any plans to return to Australia at that time. Two more children were born after the couple left. According to documents seen by Guardian Australia, Kanj had her citizenship canceled by then Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton in 2019. This decision was later overturned by a high court ruling.

Save the Children Australia CEO Mat Tinkler said the returning children will need access to wraparound health and psychosocial support. He added that the political debate surrounding their future in Australia has been deeply disappointing. While much attention has focused on the circumstances of the mothers, two-thirds of the returning group are children. Australia must prioritize their safety, wellbeing, and right to live in this country as Australian citizens. They're entitled to these rights, and it's the government's responsibility to ensure they're protected.

The Morrison government repatriated eight orphans from Syria in 2019. The Albanese government repatriated 13 children with their four mothers in October 2022. In 2025, two mothers and their four children returned to Melbourne after negotiating their return with authorities. Last month, nine children and their four mothers also returned to Australia with the support of their families. Three of the women were arrested and charged.

Tinkler called for the remaining Australian woman in Syria, who's been issued a temporary exclusion order by the Albanese government, to also be allowed to leave. The woman's father and lawyer were contacted for comment. They haven't made any public statements yet.

  • 19 Australian women and children with links to Islamic State have arrived in Melbourne and Sydney
  • The group consists of 12 children and seven women
  • They've been held in Syria since the defeat of Islamic State
  • Security agencies have been preparing for their return since 2014
  • The Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, said any members of the group who've committed crimes will face the full force of the law
  • The priority of the government is the safety of the Australian community