Australian families of IS fighters have been repatriated from Syria

Published

3 years ago

October 31, 2022

Costa Haritos

Four women and 13 children have touched down in Australia after fleeing war-torn Syria

The families of those who travelled to fight for Islamic State have been repatriated to Australia.

Around 60 Australians are believed to have landed in New South Wales, after spending years in Syrian detention camps.

The women and children are related to either dead or jailed Islamic State militants.

They had been living in the al-Hol and Roj detention centres in Syria, which the United Nations had previously described as having torturous conditions.

The women reportedly agreed to terrorism control mechanisms upon their return to Australia.

It follows criticism from Australia’s Shadow Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews, who said the scheme was “inexcusable”.

“I am concerned about what will be put in place to make sure that these women and children are not in a position that they will cause any risk at all to Australian people,” she said.

The United Nations believes over 300,000 civilians have been killed in the conflict since 2011. This figure equates to around 1.5 per cent of Syria’s pre-war population.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the repatriation mission followed strict protocols but he did not provide any additional information.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said the government had considered a “security, community and welfare factors”, before any decisions were made.

“The decision to repatriate these women and their children was informed by individual assessments following detailed work by national security agencies.”
CLARE O’NEIL, AUSTRALIA’s HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER

The U.S, Italy, and the Netherlands are among other nations who have offered similar programs.

Australia had previously repatriated its citizens from Syria in 2019 under then Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Sophie McNeill from Human Rights Watch welcomed the government’s decision.

“For years, the Australian government had abandoned its nationals to horrific conditions in locked camps in northeast Syria where they were at risk to life and limb and lacked sufficient food, clean water, medical care and education,”
SOPHIE MCNEILL, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

Human Rights Watch said the Australian Government should also provide rehabilitation for all returnees, and bring home other Australians in similar conditions.

Iran buries nuclear site entrances amid rising tensions with the U.S.

Published

10 hours ago

February 11, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Satellite images reveal that Iran has buried all three tunnel entrances at its Isfahan nuclear complex. Analysts say the move mirrors defensive preparations taken before U.S. airstrikes devastated the facility last year, with no vehicle or personnel activity visible around the entrances.

The burial appears aimed at limiting damage from potential airstrikes and complicating any ground raid targeting enriched uranium stored in the underground facility. Experts suggest equipment or materials may have been moved into the tunnels for protection, though this remains unconfirmed.

The fortification comes amid ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions. President Trump has demanded Iran curb its nuclear program, warning of military action, while Tehran insists halting uranium enrichment is unacceptable. Recent indirect talks in Oman showed little progress toward a new deal.

News

Armed figure seen on CCTV as search intensifies for Savannah Guthries mother

CCTV shows armed figure near Nancy Guthrie’s home as search for the missing 84-year-old mother continues into week two.

Published

16 hours ago

February 11, 2026

Harvey Vargas

CCTV shows an armed figure near Nancy Guthrie’s home as the search for the missing 84-year-old mother continues into week two.

New CCTV footage has been released as police intensify the search for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of US Today show presenter Savannah Guthrie, who vanished in Tucson, Arizona.

The 84-year-old disappeared after returning home on January 31, with authorities now believing she may have been kidnapped during the early hours of February 1.

Investigators say the case has entered a critical phase as public attention grows around the alarming circumstances of her disappearance.

#BreakingNews #USNews #MissingPerson #TrueCrime #SavannahGuthrie #CCTVFootage #CrimeWatch #TickerNews

News

Trump hints at military pressure as U.S. and Iran resume nuclear talks

US-Iran restart nuclear talks in Oman amid cautious optimism, while Trump considers military escalation and Israel demands stricter missile terms.

Published

16 hours ago

February 11, 2026

Harvey Vargas

US-Iran restart nuclear talks in Oman amid cautious optimism, while Trump considers military escalation and Israel demands stricter missile terms.

The United States and Iran have returned to the negotiating table in Oman, marking a fresh attempt to ease escalating nuclear tensions between the two long-time rivals. President Donald Trump described the talks as promising, suggesting momentum toward further discussions.

Iran’s Foreign Minister echoed cautious optimism, calling the meetings a positive first step while acknowledging deep-seated trust issues remain unresolved. At the heart of the talks is a major sticking point — the White House’s insistence that Iran dismantle its nuclear capability entirely.

Iran, however, maintains it has a sovereign right to enrich uranium, setting the stage for difficult negotiations ahead as both sides test whether diplomacy can hold.

#USIran #NuclearTalks #MiddleEastPolitics #Trump #IranNuclear #GlobalDiplomacy #WorldNews #TickerNews