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<\/p>\nFor years, Al-Hawl and Al-Roj have been two big problems, with no easy solutions.<\/p>\n
The detention camps in north-eastern Syria collectively housed more than 70,000 people at their peak in 2019.<\/p>\n
They included the wives and children of Islamic State group fighters, who were captured or killed when US-backed Kurdish forces helped defeat the terrorist group.<\/p>\n
After holding a large swathe of autonomous territory that included both camps, Kurdish-led forces are now reluctantly handing over control to Syrian government forces following their successful military offensive.<\/p>\n
Syria seized the Al-Hawl camp in January, prompting many detainees to flee as the Kurds retreated.<\/p>\n
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The Al-Roj camp in Syria has held thousands of people, including dozens of Australians. (ABC News: Heidi Pett)<\/p>\n
For now, Al-Roj is still controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and its future is uncertain.<\/p>\n
But after repeatedly asking foreign countries to repatriate their citizens, officials in Al-Roj have been letting detainees with travel documents leave.<\/p>\n
It’s an opportunity a group of 34 Australian women and children<\/a> weren’t about to pass up.<\/p>\n But their journey to Australia hit a roadblock, when Syrian authorities wouldn’t let the group leave the Kurdish-held zone.<\/p>\n They appear to be caught in the middle of a power struggle that dates back many years.<\/p>\n There are approximately 2,000 women and children living in Al-Roj. (ABC News:\u00a0Baderkhan\u00a0Ahmad)<\/p>\n Kurds help defeat Islamic State group<\/p>\n After controlling large parts of northern Syria and neighbouring Iraq, the Islamic State group was defeated in 2019, thanks to the joint efforts of Kurdish forces and a US-led coalition.<\/p>\n The Kurds went on to control nearly a third of Syria’s territory, much of it rich in resources.<\/p>\n But in late 2024, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s regime was toppled<\/a> by Islamist rebels.<\/p>\n The new president, former fighter Ahmed al-Sharaa, vowed to unify the country, which had been gripped by more than a decade of civil war.<\/p>\n That included taking back territory held by the Kurdish-led SDF.<\/p>\n Read more from the ABC:Syrian government launches lightning offensive<\/p>\n In January, Syrian government forces launched a major military offensive against the SDF.<\/p>\n Following days of violent clashes and significant territorial losses, the SDF agreed to a ceasefire.<\/p>\n Under the terms of the deal, Kurdish military and civil structures would be gradually absorbed into the central Syrian government.<\/p>\n Government forces would also be deployed to major Kurdish cities.<\/p>\n The US, which had long supported the SDF, had since established friendly terms with the government of Ahmed al-Sharaa, the rebel leader who has been ruling Syria since ousting Bashar al-Assad in 2024.<\/p>\n President Donald Trump even hosted al-Sharaa at the White House, in what was the first-ever visit for a Syrian leader.<\/p>\n Trump also rolled back sanctions and welcomed Syria into an anti-Islamic State coalition.<\/p>\n Trump hosts landmark meeting with Syrian leader<\/a><\/p>\n US President Donald Trump hosts the Syrian leader for a landmark White House meeting.<\/p>\n In January, as Syrian government forces consolidated power over Kurdish-held territory, the US suggested the SDF had passed its use-by date.<\/p>\n “The original purpose of the SDF as the primary anti-ISIS force on the ground has largely expired,” US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said.<\/p>\n “Damascus is now both willing and positioned to take over security responsibilities, including control of Daesh detention facilities and camps,” he said.<\/p>\n Syria signalled it planned to close both Al-Hawl and Al-Roj camps.<\/p>\n Syrian forces take over Al-Hawl<\/p>\n Syrian government forces took control of the larger camp, Al-Hawl, after the SDF rapidly withdrew in January.<\/p>\n During the chaos, many of the foreign IS-linked families reportedly escaped, and aid agencies had to pull back due to security fears.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/425529291065041a5aecec9a811e5dfe.jpeg\")
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