Australia rules out helping families of IS militants leave Syrian camp

Members of Australian families believed to be linked to the Islamic State militants leave Roj camp near Derik, Syria February 16, 2026. The families later returned to the detention center due to "technical reasons," two sources told Reuters. REUTERS/Orhan Qereman

SYDNEY, Feb ⁠17 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday his government would not help Australians in ⁠a Syrian camp holding families of suspected Islamic State militants return home, with the government ‌open to prosecutions if they make it back.

"We have a very firm view that we won't be providing assistance or repatriation," Albanese told ABC News.