Australia Refuses to Repatriate 34 Women and Children from Syria

The Australian government will not bring back a group with alleged ties to the Islamic State, officials say.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Australian government has announced it will not repatriate a group of 34 women and children with alleged links to the Islamic State group from Syria, according to officials.

Why it matters

This decision highlights the ongoing challenges governments face in dealing with citizens who traveled to join extremist groups, as well as the complex security and humanitarian concerns surrounding the repatriation of these individuals.

The details

The group includes 16 women and 18 children who are currently being held in camps in northeastern Syria. Australian officials cited national security concerns as the reason for refusing to bring them back to the country.

  • The announcement was made on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

The players

Australian Government

The government of Australia, which has decided not to repatriate the group of 34 women and children from Syria.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

This decision highlights the ongoing challenges governments face in balancing national security concerns with humanitarian considerations when dealing with citizens who have ties to extremist groups.