France repatriates group of women and children from Syrian camps

Kurdish-run camps like al-Hol (pictured) and prisons in northeastern Syria still hold about 56,000 people from dozens of countries, many of them the family members of Islamic State group (IS) suspects, more than five years after the jihadists' territorial defeat in Syria. 18 April, 2025. AFP - DELIL SOULEIMAN

France repatriated three women and 10 children from Syrian prisons for alleged jihadists, anti-terror prosecutors said on Tuesday. More than five years after the Islamic State group's territorial defeat in the region, tens of thousands of people are still held in Kurdish-run camps and prisons in northeastern Syria – many with alleged or perceived links to IS.

The women repatriated to France from Syria are aged between 18 and 34.