Australian Detainees Released from Roj Camp in Syria

Thirty-four Australians detained in a camp for families of suspected Islamic State members in northern Syria were released by Kurdish forces. They will be flown back to Australia from Damascus. The Australian government has stated it will not repatriate those from Syria without legal consequences for any crimes committed.

On Monday, Syrian Kurdish forces facilitated the release of 34 Australians detained in Roj camp, which houses families of suspected Islamic State militants. Those freed are set to fly from Damascus back to Australia. Roj camp, holding over 2,000 individuals from 40 nations, primarily women and children, became their temporary abode.

Since the defeat of Islamic State's last Syrian stronghold in 2019, thousands linked to the group have been detained in Roj and another camp, al-Hol. The Australian government, however, reiterates its stance against repatriating citizens from Syria, emphasizing potential legal repercussions for crimes committed.

Security agencies continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure national safety. Meanwhile, the U.S. has recently transferred numerous male detainees from Syria to Iraq. The release marks yet another effort by Kurdish-led authorities to negotiate with foreign governments, pointing to cases like that of British-born Shamima Begum.