6 Canadian children stuck in Syrian detention camp have now been returned to Canada

Six Canadian children have been repatriated from Syria according to a statement from Global Affairs Canada.

«The Government of Canada has taken extraordinary measures to repatriate six Canadian children from northeastern Syria,» the statement said.

«The focus is now on protecting the children's privacy and ensuring they receive the support and care needed to begin a new life here in Canada.»

A separate statement issued by U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the children were brought back from Syria as part of an operation that saw the U.S. repatriate 11 of its citizens, as well as Canadian, Dutch and Finnish nationals.

Canadian lawyer Lawrence Greenspon confirmed to CBC News that Global Affairs Canada (GAC) informed him the children were transferred to Canada overnight, and that all six have now arrived in Montreal.

Greenspon said that a family has been identified that will care for the six children and the Clinique de Polarization was also present for their arrival.

Greenspon told CBC News in June that the children's mother was not being permitted to return to Canada after failing to pass a security screening assessment.

Greenspon said the government told him it decided not to repatriate the woman because she «adheres to extreme ideological beliefs» and could pose a risk to the public. He said the government provided no details on how they arrived at that decision.

«They don't indicate the depth of their assessment or what they took into account or how they came to this conclusion,» he said.

Provincial authorities to help with settlement

Blinken's statement detailing the repatriation effort said there are approximately 30,000 people from more than 60 countries, mostly children, that remain in al-Hol and Roj