Syria

WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is withdrawing forces from Syria as part of a strategic shift now that the government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is taking control of the fight against terror groups, according to a senior US official. A significant US troop presence is no longer required in…

By: Rod Mcguirk And Hogir Al Abdo, The Associated Press Posted: 12:37 AM CST Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 Last Modified: 11:25 AM CST Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 Print Email Read Later MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia's government banned an Australian citizen with alleged ties to the militant Islamic State group…

Human Rights Watch The United States transferred 5,700 detainees held for alleged ISIS affiliation from Northeast Syria to Iraq, where they are at risk of enforced disappearance, unfair trials, torture, ill-treatment, and violations of the right to life, Human Rights Watch said today. The United States began transferring the detainees,…

Australia refuses to repatriate ISIS-linked citizens in Syria as escape attempt fails  CNNAustralians with alleged IS ties are turned back after departing Syrian camp for repatriation  AP NewsAustralian IS families in Syria camp turned back after leaving for home  BBCAustralian PM Albanese says no help for ISIL relatives held in Syria camp  Al Jazeera'We…

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that his government will not repatriate Australian women and children from Syria who have been identified as relatives of suspected ISIL (ISIS) fighters. “We have a very firm view that we won’t be providing assistance or repatriation,” Albanese told ABC News on Tuesday.…

SYDNEY, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday his government would not repatriate Australians living in a Syrian camp that holds families of suspected Islamic State militants. "We have a very firm view that we won't be providing assistance or repatriation," Albanese told ABC News.…

Thirty-four Australians released from a camp holding families of suspected Islamic State militants in northern Syria have returned to the detention centre due to “technical reasons”. Hukmiya Mohamed, a co-director of Roj camp, told Reuters that the 34 Australians had been handed to members of their families who had come…

Updated February 17, 2026 — 7:15am, first published 7:54pm A large group of Australian Islamic State brides and their children left a Syrian camp late on Monday on their way back to Australia, but were turned around about 50 kilometres down the road and sent back to where they began.…

In brief A Syrian official described the setback as "purely a procedural issue". The Australian government said in a statement it would not actively repatriate individuals from Syria. Thirty-four Australians released on Monday from a camp in northern Syria holding wives and children of suspected militants from the self-proclaimed Islamic…

Lebanese authorities say Israeli forces bombed a vehicle near the border, killing at least four people. Israeli forces have bombed a vehicle near Lebanon’s border with Syria, killing at least four people, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. The Israeli air strike took place early on Monday morning,…