Years of scaled-back US presence and shifting political dynamics inside Syria led to a shot at returning home last week for a group of Australians held in Syrian camps, before their window closed again. A group of 34 Australian women and children with alleged links to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) group attempted to travel to Damascus from al-Roj camp in north-east Syria, in mid-February. Their goal was to return to Australia from there. Their trip was halted when Syrian officials denied exit permission, and the Australian government has been adamant it will not assist their return and may charge the women if they do return.