• Thirteen Australians, including four women and nine children, are returning from Syria.
• Australian authorities warn of potential arrests for those linked to ISIS.
• Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke condemns the women's decisions to support ISIS.
• Children will receive psychological support and counter-extremism programs.
• Legal limits hinder the government's ability to prevent their return.

A group of 13 Australians, comprising four women and nine children, is set to return home from Syria, with Australian authorities warning that some will face arrest upon arrival. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that they had received an alert regarding the group's travel booking and stated, “The government is not assisting and will not assist these individuals,” referring to their ties with alleged ISIS jihadists. Burke emphasized the government's hard stance against this group in light of their choice to support a terrorist organization, underscoring that “If any of these individuals find their way back to Australia, if they have committed crimes, they can expect to face the full force of the law, without exception,” according to SCMP and NPR.

The Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Krissy Barrett, stated that investigations into individuals returning from Syria have been ongoing since 2015, examining potential terrorism offenses and crimes against humanity. Barrett noted that children will undergo programs aimed at community integration and countering violent extremism. Previously, a similar attempt to repatriate 34 women and children from the Roj camp was blocked by Syrian authorities in February, raising concerns over the government's capability to facilitate the return of those with links to terrorism, according to NPR and Al Jazeera.

Australian officials have expressed limitations in preventing returnees, as international law mandates that citizens must be allowed entry. Despite this, Burke reiterated that the government has not offered assistance in the group's return, as they had actively chosen to support what Burke described as one of the most “horrific terrorist organizations.” This is evidenced by the country’s prior incidents involving Australian nationals who faced legal consequences for similar actions, including travel to ISIS territories, according to SCMP and Al Jazeera.

During the press briefing, Burke pointed out that while Australia is obligated to provide necessary travel documentation for returning citizens, there remain "very serious limits" on preventing Australian citizens from returning home. He added that previous policies have resulted in temporary exclusion orders for certain individuals identified as high risks from returning to Australia for up to two years, making the approach toward these returnees quite stringent. Community support and rehabilitation programs have been proposed for children returning with their parents, indicating an effort to reintegrate them into society, according to NPR and Al Jazeera.