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Thousands of ISIS-Linked Families Remain in Al-Hol Camp

2/18/2026

25 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Relief groups say at least 8,000 ISIS-linked women and children from 40+ countries remain since 2019.
Some have begun returning home, including a Belgian woman and an Albanian child.
Thirty-four Australians were turned back en route to repatriation due to coordination issues with the Syrian government.
Al-Hol camp, once run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, saw a population drop after handover to the Syrian government.

History

Historical Context

The Al-Hol camp in Syria, initially housing 10,000 refugees in late 2018, swelled to over 60,000 by early 2021 due to the collapse of ISIL. Managed by the Syrian Democratic Forces until 2019, the camp now faces dire conditions for thousands of displaced individuals, including 8,000 linked to ISIS, highlighting the ongoing challenges of post-conflict recovery and international repatriation efforts.

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Story summary

Relief groups say at least 8,000 ISIS-linked women and children from 40+ countries remain since 2019.
Some have begun returning home, including a Belgian woman and an Albanian child.
Thirty-four Australians were turned back en route to repatriation due to coordination issues with the Syrian government.
Al-Hol camp, once run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, saw a population drop after handover to the Syrian government.

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