Finland Aims to Repatriate ISIS Children from Syria 'as Soon as Possible'

A general view of al-Hol displacement camp in Hasaka governorate, Syria April 2, 2019. (Reuters)
A general view of al-Hol displacement camp in Hasaka governorate, Syria April 2, 2019. (Reuters)
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Finland Aims to Repatriate ISIS Children from Syria 'as Soon as Possible'

A general view of al-Hol displacement camp in Hasaka governorate, Syria April 2, 2019. (Reuters)
A general view of al-Hol displacement camp in Hasaka governorate, Syria April 2, 2019. (Reuters)

Finland will try to repatriate children of Finnish mothers who traveled to Syria to join ISIS “as soon as possible”, Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Monday.

Finland is one of a number of European Union member states facing a decision over whether to bring home citizens with ISIS links who are trapped at the al-Hol camp displacement camp controlled by Kurds in northeastern Syria.

More than 30 children born to 11 Finnish women are at al-Hol, according to Finnish media, and the fate of the mothers has caused divisions in Finland’s five-party coalition government that took office last week.

The Center Party, a coalition ally of Marin’s Social Democrats, opposes letting the wives of ISIS fighters back into Finland but supports repatriating their children.

The party is worried by the rise in the polls of the opposition nationalist Finns Party, which says repatriating ISIS detainees could endanger Finland’s security.

Marin said that, in an attempt to resolve the dispute in the coalition, the government had decided each case should be judged on its own merits.

“The aim of the authorities’ actions is to protect the interests of the child in all circumstances,” Marin said, leaving the door open for the repatriation of some of the mothers with their children.

“There is no obligation to assist adults who went to the region of their own accord,” she said.

Repatriating children without their mothers is unlikely to happen as Syrian Kurdish forces, who control the territory that includes al-Hol, oppose separating children from their mothers.

Marin’s government faces questioning on the issue in parliament on Tuesday.



Iran Army Says Israel Failed to Disrupt its Air Defenses

A meeting between the commanders of air defenses in the Iranian army and members of the National Security Committee in Parliament (Mehr)
A meeting between the commanders of air defenses in the Iranian army and members of the National Security Committee in Parliament (Mehr)
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Iran Army Says Israel Failed to Disrupt its Air Defenses

A meeting between the commanders of air defenses in the Iranian army and members of the National Security Committee in Parliament (Mehr)
A meeting between the commanders of air defenses in the Iranian army and members of the National Security Committee in Parliament (Mehr)

Iranian officials have said that a recent Israeli strike on Iran failed to achieve its objectives of disabling Iranian air defense systems.

Brig. Gen. Alireza Sabahifard, head of Iran’s Air Defense Force, told members of Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee that, despite some damages, Iran’s air defense systems were quickly restored. He emphasized that no Israeli aircraft had entered Iranian airspace during the attack, underlining the resilience of Iran’s defense infrastructure.

The Israeli military had claimed the October 26 attack targeted military installations in Iran in response to earlier Iranian missile strikes on October 1, which Iran asserted were retaliations for the deaths of pro-Iranian leaders and a Revolutionary Guard general.

According to Israeli media, the strike damaged radar systems in southwestern Iran, impacted missile production facilities at Parchin, and hit a solid-fuel rocket workshop near Khajir, east of Tehran. Reports also mentioned damage at Shahrud’s space center and the destruction of several Russian-made S-300 air defense systems. Satellite images confirmed some destruction, and Iranian authorities reported that the attack killed five people, including four military personnel and one civilian, with many others wounded.

Sabahifard told lawmakers that all targeted defense systems were operational once again and highlighted the importance of continued military enhancements. Citing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s focus on defense priorities, he noted that Iran’s air defense capabilities have significantly advanced in recent years, claiming it to be the strongest in the region.

While Iran has pledged a strong response to any future Israeli attacks, the United States recently announced an increased military presence in the Middle East to deter potential Iranian aggression and defend Israel. The Pentagon’s deployment includes additional ballistic missile defenses, fighter jets, and B-52 bombers, aimed at reinforcing the region’s defenses.

In a recent interview, Major General Mohammad Jafar Asadi, Deputy Chief of Operations for Iran’s General Staff, indicated that Iran’s response would occur at a time chosen by Khamenei, implying a significant retaliatory operation, potentially named “True Promise 3.” This follows Iran’s October counterattacks against Israel, which it labeled as “True Promise 2.” Asadi emphasized that Iran has faced continuous struggles on multiple fronts for 45 years, specifically against Israel, which he described as a “cancerous tumor.”

Asadi also reaffirmed Iran’s ongoing support for Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. He described the broader conflict as one between Iran and the United States, claiming that Israel’s advanced military capabilities are heavily supported by US weaponry and strategic guidance.