France repatriates women and children from camps in NE Syria
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – France announced on Tuesday the repatriation of three women and ten children of French nationality from camps in northeast Syria that host families of Islamic State (ISIS) members.
In a statement, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the ten children were handed over to child protection services, while the three women were transferred to judicial authorities for legal proceedings.
The French Interior Ministry’s records from 2016 indicate that more than 650 French citizens, including about 250 women, traveled to Syria and Iraq to join extremist groups such as ISIS and the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra.
The French Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office said two of the three women were detained under a judge’s order, while an arrest warrant was issued for the third, who will appear before a judge in an upcoming hearing.
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson expressed gratitude to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)-backed Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) for facilitating the operation, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). The AANES has repeatedly called on foreign governments to take responsibility for their nationals in al-Hawl and Roj camps, where tens of thousands of individuals, mostly women and children, remain.
Al-Hawl Camp, located in Hasakah Governorate and administered by AANES, holds the largest number of foreign families linked to ISIS. The camp has been described by humanitarian organizations as one of the most complex security and humanitarian challenges in the region. The SDF, supported by the US-led Global Coalition, continues to maintain security inside and around the camp to prevent ISIS resurgence and to ensure safe transfer processes during repatriations.
Tuesday’s repatriation marks the latest in a series of operations coordinated between AANES and foreign governments. While several European countries have taken back some of their citizens in recent years, France remains one of the few states to consistently engage in coordinated returns.
The French Foreign Ministry stated that authorities will continue to examine individual cases, emphasizing that the best interests of children remain a priority in such operations.