A group of 19 women and children, who are alleged to have links to the ISIL (ISIS) group, have returned to Australia from Syria. The individuals, comprising six women and 13 children, arrived on Tuesday, with one contingent landing in Sydney and another in Melbourne.

The return marks the second group of Australian women and children to come back from Syria this month. The Australian government has stated it did not assist in their repatriation and warned that any individuals found to have engaged in criminal activity would face prosecution. Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke emphasized that these individuals "made the horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organisation and to place their children in an unspeakable situation."

Australian Federal Police confirmed that no arrests were made upon the group's arrival, but investigations into their alleged connections are ongoing. Media reports indicated a significant police presence at Melbourne airport, with a scuffle reportedly occurring as the group was escorted to a side exit, highlighting the public sensitivity surrounding their return.

Australia, like several other Western nations, has been hesitant to repatriate citizens who traveled to the Middle East to join ISIL approximately a decade ago. This reluctance stems from national security concerns and the potential for individuals to have been involved in terrorist activities.

Historically, Australian women began traveling to Syria to marry ISIL members around 2012, with some children allegedly taken against their will. At its peak in 2015, ISIL controlled territory across Syria and Iraq comparable in size to the United Kingdom.

Other countries have faced similar dilemmas. France and the United Kingdom have both expressed opposition to allowing former ISIL members to return. In 2022, a UN committee stated that France's failure to repatriate children of its nationals from Syria violated their rights. Meanwhile, the UK revoked the citizenship of Shamima Begum in 2019 due to national security concerns.

In February, the Australian government implemented a temporary exclusion order against one woman in Syria, preventing her return until February 2028, though her child, who was not barred, chose to remain with her. Her family is currently contesting this decision.

The ongoing investigations by the Australian Federal Police will aim to determine the extent of any involvement in terrorist activities by the returned individuals and whether any legal action will be pursued.