France repatriates children of ISIS fighters from Syria

French social services have called them ‘particularly vulnerable’ and taken them into care

Kurdish fighter stand guard as Syrian child, suspected of being related to Islamic State (IS) group fighters, waits at the Kurdish-run al-Hol camp, before being released along with women and children to return to their homes, in the al-Hasakeh governorate in northeastern Syria. AFP

Children hold onto water containers in al-Hol camp, Syria. Reuters

An elderly Syrian woman waits to leave the Kurdish-run al-Hol camp holding relatives of alleged Islamic State (IS) group fighters, in the al-Hasakeh governorate in northeastern Syria. AFP

A child looks on at the Kurdish-run al-Hol camp for the displaced in the al-Hasakeh governorate in northeastern Syria. AFP

Syrian youths get food portions as they prepare to leave the Kurdish-run al-Hol camp holding relatives of alleged Islamic State (IS) group fighters, in the al-Hasakeh governorate in northeastern Syria. AFP

A Kurdish fighter looks on as Syrian women and children, suspected of being related to Islamic State (IS) group fighters, gather at the Kurdish-run al-Hol camp, before being released to return to their homes, in the al-Hasakeh governorate in northeastern Syria. AFP

Children look through holes in a tent at al-Hol displacement camp in Hasaka governorate, Syria. Reuters

Syrians wait to leave the Kurdish-run al-Hol camp holding relatives of alleged Islamic State (IS) group fighters, in the al-Hasakeh governorate in northeastern Syria. AFP

Russian children and an adolescent woman from the Kurdish-run al-Hol camp, which holds displaced families accused of being related to the Islamic State (IS) group, are handed over to a delegation from their country, in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli. AFP

Russian children from the Kurdish-run al-Hol camp, which holds displaced families accused of being related to the Islamic State (IS) group, are handed over to a delegation from their country, in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli. AFP

France brought back children of ISIS fighters from northeast Syria on Wednesday, continuing a repatriation process which began after the toppling of the extremist group's so-called caliphate.

The seven children, aged between 2 and 11, are particularly vulnerable and have been taken into care by social services, the foreign ministry said.

They had been living in the Kurdish-run Roj and Al Hol camps, where thousands of relatives of ISIS fighters and sympathisers have been held there since the terror group's defeat in Syria, a Kurdish source in the region told AFP.
France has so far repatriated 35 children, many of them orphans. According to the international child rights organisation, Save the Children, there are more than 9,000 foreign children in the region altogether, including some British. There are around 43,000 children in the largest camp, Al Hol.
Rights groups have been pressuring European governments to allow children to return from the crowded and desolate camps.

Kurdish officials have also been pressuring countries to take back their citizens, warning that they do not have the resources to guard prisoners indefinitely.

France has insisted it will only take back children. Mothers will remain behind to face local justice but many of the women have refused to be separated from their children.