The United States has successfully repatriated 11 US citizens, including five minors and the sibling of one of the minors, from northeast Syria. This operation, described by Secretary of State Antony Blinken as the largest single repatriation of Americans from the region, was a result of close coordination with interagency partners.
All repatriated individuals belong to the same family and none have ties to ISIS, as confirmed by a State Department official. However, one American woman, Halima Salman, is facing criminal charges for training with ISIS abroad.
Secretary Blinken highlighted the ongoing humanitarian and security crisis in northeast Syria, where tens of thousands of people, mostly children, from over 60 countries are residing in Al-Hol and Roj encampments. The US has been actively working to repatriate its citizens from former ISIS territory and has urged other nations to do the same.
As part of this recent repatriation effort, a total of 23 individuals were brought out of Syria, including six Canadian citizens, four Dutch citizens, and one Finnish citizen, along with eight children. The US expressed gratitude to these governments for their cooperation and leadership in bringing their nationals home.
Secretary Blinken emphasized the importance of repatriation, rehabilitation, reintegration, and accountability for wrongdoing as the most effective long-term solution to the crisis in northeast Syria. The US remains committed to assisting nations in repatriating their citizens and finding suitable solutions, such as resettlement, for those unable to return to their home countries.
