A group of Australian women and children attempting to return to Australia after years of detention in Syria over their linked to the Islamic State have reportedly secured plane tickets home.
They are due to depart the Syrian capital of Damascus in coming days, the Sydney Morning Herald reports, after leaving the Al-Roj detention camp on Saturday in co-ordination with security forces.
The group, comprising four women and nine children, had previously received passports through prominent western Sydney doctor Jamal Rifi.
They had earlier attempted to escape the camp and reach Damascus as part of a wider cohort of 34 women and children, or 11 families, in February.
That attempt failed after Syrian government authorities did not allow them to enter the capital, forcing them to return to Al-Roj camp.
At least one member of the larger cohort is subject to a temporary exclusion order, which could lead to them being banned from re-entering Australia for up to two years over security concerns.
The Albanese government has denied assisting the group.
More to come
