Trump administration urges countries to help citizens stuck in Syria as Australia holds on hardline stance

Syrian officials say a group of Australians are ‘awaiting a solution’ amid the Albanese government’s refusal to repatriate them

The Trump administration says it is in “active communication” with countries, urging them to repatriate citizens stranded in Syria, while the Australian government maintains its hardline stance towards Australian women and children detained since the fall of Islamic State.

A group of four women, their nine children and grandchildren left al Roj camp, in Syria’s northeast, last Friday in a bid to return to Australia, with reports on Thursday morning that the Albanese government’s refusal to help them has left them stuck in Damascus.