Australian Citizens Evacuation from Al-Roj Camp in Syria Blocked: Repatriation Stalemate and National Security Considerations

On February 16, 2026, at the Roj detention camp in Hasakah Governorate, northeastern Syria, a planned evacuation operation was halted midway. Thirty-four Australian citizens—women and children from 11 families—were stopped by Syrian authorities on their way to Damascus Airport on procedural grounds and forced to return to the camp. On the same day, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese publicly stated in Melbourne: We will not repatriate them. These citizens, who are alleged to have ties with the extremist group Islamic State, are once again caught in the complex intersection of international legal obligations, national security, and humanitarian concerns. This marks the third attempt by the Australian government to repatriate its citizens since the collapse of the Islamic State entity in 2019, and the second time such efforts have reached a deadlock.

The Seven-Year Stalemate at Roy Camp

Roy Camp is located in the Kurdish-controlled area of northeastern Syria, approximately 50 kilometers from the Iraqi border. The camp currently detains around 2,200 women and children from nearly 50 countries worldwide, most of whom have not been formally charged but are guarded by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Camp manager Hakmiye Ibrahim told the Associated Press that the evacuation on February 16 was organized by the detainees' relatives, with the Australian government only providing passports and travel documents and advising the families to collect them.

Countries have significantly different repatriation policies regarding the Al-Roj camp and the larger Al-Hol camp. Iraq has repatriated a large number of its citizens. The United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Canada have also repatriated some of their citizens from the Syrian camps. In 2025, Germany, the UK, and France repatriated some families from the Al-Roj camp. The situation in the UK is more complex: in November 2025, a counter-terrorism review report recommended repatriating individuals linked to the UK, such as Shamima Begum, stating that the UK had become an outlier in its policy regarding such citizens. Begum traveled from London to Syria at the age of 15 and remains in the Al-Roj camp after losing her appeal to regain British citizenship.

Australia's deportation record is relatively limited. In 2019, the former conservative government deported eight children of Australian ISIS fighters who had died. In October 2022, four mothers and their 13 children arrived in Sydney, as the government assessed that these 17 individuals were the most vulnerable among the 60 Australian women and children in the camp. The remaining Australian citizens returned on their own without government assistance.

The government's position and considerations

Albanese quoted his mother on February 16, saying: "You made your bed, now lie in it." He made it clear: "We have no sympathy for those who go overseas to participate in attempts to establish a caliphate aimed at destroying our way of life." This statement refers to the period from 2014 to 2017 when the Islamic State controlled large territories in Syria and Iraq, attracting a significant number of foreign militants.

According to Australia's "Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Act 2014," traveling without a legitimate reason to areas controlled by the Islamic State between 2014 and 2017 could result in a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment. Albanese warned that if these individuals return to Australia on their own, they will face the full force of the law. He also mentioned that the charity Save the Children failed to establish in court that the government has an obligation to repatriate citizens from Syrian camps. After the Federal Court ruled in favor of the government in 2024, Matt Tinkler, the Australian head of Save the Children, stated that even if there is no legal obligation, the government has a moral duty to repatriate these families.

Opposition leader Angus Taylor has demanded that the government clarify whether it is considering the use of temporary exclusion orders. This order allows ministers to prevent high-risk overseas citizens from returning to Australia for up to two years. Taylor emphasized: These individuals have chosen to align themselves with the terrorist caliphate. This is inconsistent with the values that we Australians believe in. Albanese did not directly respond, only stating that on national security issues, appropriate measures will be taken based on the advice of security agencies.

The domestic security situation also influences decision-making. On December 14, 2025, an attack at a Jewish festival event on Sydney's Bondi Beach resulted in 15 deaths, with the attacker allegedly incited by Islamic State ideology. This incident has once again brought the issue of Islamic State supporters into focus, and any government decision on repatriation may face political risks and security concerns.

Geopolitical Context and Future Challenges

The fate of Camp Roy is tied to the geopolitical landscape of northeastern Syria. This area, controlled by Kurdish forces, has long faced military threats from Turkey, pressure from the Syrian government forces, and attacks by sleeper cells of the Islamic State. The U.S. military has transferred thousands of accused Islamic State militants from detention centers in northeastern Syria to Iraq for trial, but the long-term settlement of women and children remains unresolved.

Human rights organizations warn of poor living conditions and widespread violence in Camp Roj and Camp al-Hol. These camps have become legal gray areas: detainees are held without trial, most of their home countries are unwilling to accept them, and the local Kurdish authorities lack both the resources and legal mandate for long-term detention. This stalemate may fuel extremism. Analysts point out that children growing up in the camps lack formal education and are exposed to extremist ideologies, potentially becoming future security risks.

Australia's tough stance reflects the cautious approach of Western nations in assessing the risks associated with individuals linked to ISIS, but it also entails diplomatic and humanitarian costs. The Syrian authorities' obstruction of the evacuation on procedural grounds highlights the need for complex diplomatic coordination in the repatriation process. Without formal government-level agreements, private repatriation attempts driven solely by family members are highly susceptible to local procedural or political uncertainties.

In the coming months, the fate of the approximately 26 remaining Australian citizens in Al-Roj camp will continue to test the Albanese government. Globally, thousands of citizens from dozens of countries are still stranded in Syrian camps. Seven years have passed since the U.S.-led international coalition militarily defeated the Islamic State entity, but how to handle the legacy of its personnel remains a challenge that divides the international community, tests domestic legal systems, and impacts regional security. Australia's choice is one move in this complex chess game, and its implications will gradually unfold in the counter-terrorism landscape over the coming years.