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| Orphans thought to be British rescued from Isis camp after Turkish attacks | Orphans thought to be British rescued from Isis camp after Turkish attacks |
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| Three orphans believed to be British citizens have been evacuated from an area in northern Syria that was the focus of recent attacks by Turkish troops and their allies. | Three orphans believed to be British citizens have been evacuated from an area in northern Syria that was the focus of recent attacks by Turkish troops and their allies. |
| The Guardian understands that the three children, Amira, 10, her sister, Hiba, eight, and their brother, Hamza, were evacuated from a camp for people associated with Islamic State in Ain Issa on Sunday. They were part of a group of 28 children taken to safety by the UN refugee organisation. | The Guardian understands that the three children, Amira, 10, her sister, Hiba, eight, and their brother, Hamza, were evacuated from a camp for people associated with Islamic State in Ain Issa on Sunday. They were part of a group of 28 children taken to safety by the UN refugee organisation. |
| Confirming the evacuation the organisation said: “[It’s] true. We did take them out from the camp to the safe location.” | Confirming the evacuation the organisation said: “[It’s] true. We did take them out from the camp to the safe location.” |
| Concern had been mounting over the fate of the children after hundreds of inmates in the camp fled shelling from Turkish forces. There were calls for the children to be repatriated to the UK amid concern they could be abducted. | |
| According to a tweet by a Washington Post reporter, the children are currently being cared for by the British charity Save the Children, although a spokesperson for the charity told the Guardian they are still working to confirm that. | According to a tweet by a Washington Post reporter, the children are currently being cared for by the British charity Save the Children, although a spokesperson for the charity told the Guardian they are still working to confirm that. |
| The three orphans were discovered by the BBC and are believed to have travelled to Syria with their parents from London five years ago. | The three orphans were discovered by the BBC and are believed to have travelled to Syria with their parents from London five years ago. |
| Their mother and father, an older brother and two other sisters were killed in an air assault on Isis-controlled Baghuz, which finally fell to Kurdish led-forces in March. | Their mother and father, an older brother and two other sisters were killed in an air assault on Isis-controlled Baghuz, which finally fell to Kurdish led-forces in March. |
| The BBC broadcast a moving interview with Amira on Sunday in which she described being keen to get back to the UK. | The BBC broadcast a moving interview with Amira on Sunday in which she described being keen to get back to the UK. |
| She said she and her surviving siblings have a grandmother, but she did not know her name. The children speak Arabic, but speak English when they are together and Amira has traces of a London accent. Hiba showed the camera a large scar on her abdomen, indicating the violence they appear to have endured. | She said she and her surviving siblings have a grandmother, but she did not know her name. The children speak Arabic, but speak English when they are together and Amira has traces of a London accent. Hiba showed the camera a large scar on her abdomen, indicating the violence they appear to have endured. |
| Shortly after their whereabouts became known, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Turkish warplanes struck villages near the camp, 20 miles south of the Turkish-Syrian border. Hundreds of people in the secure camp escaped as clashes broke out between Turkish-backed Syrian fighters and Kurdish forces, local officials said. | Shortly after their whereabouts became known, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Turkish warplanes struck villages near the camp, 20 miles south of the Turkish-Syrian border. Hundreds of people in the secure camp escaped as clashes broke out between Turkish-backed Syrian fighters and Kurdish forces, local officials said. |
| The camp houses about 13,000 people, including nearly 1,000 foreign women with links to Isis and their children. | The camp houses about 13,000 people, including nearly 1,000 foreign women with links to Isis and their children. |
| According to the Kurdish-led administration in northern Syria, about 950 residents fled. They said Isis supporters attacked guards and stormed the gates. | According to the Kurdish-led administration in northern Syria, about 950 residents fled. They said Isis supporters attacked guards and stormed the gates. |
| It later emerged that several dozen unaccompanied children in the camp had been rescued by UN staff before the breakout and taken to a safe location nearby. | It later emerged that several dozen unaccompanied children in the camp had been rescued by UN staff before the breakout and taken to a safe location nearby. |
| Turkey is fighting for control of an area of Kurdish-controlled northern Syria with the tacit backing of the US – which previously counted the Kurds as allies, but withdrew troops from the area early last week. | Turkey is fighting for control of an area of Kurdish-controlled northern Syria with the tacit backing of the US – which previously counted the Kurds as allies, but withdrew troops from the area early last week. |
| The chaos at the camp led to some US troops withdrawing from a base in Ain Issa because of the threat posed by Syrian fighters allied with Turkey. A US military official said the situation across north-east Syria was “deteriorating rapidly” and that American forces were cut off from the Syrian Kurdish fighters. | The chaos at the camp led to some US troops withdrawing from a base in Ain Issa because of the threat posed by Syrian fighters allied with Turkey. A US military official said the situation across north-east Syria was “deteriorating rapidly” and that American forces were cut off from the Syrian Kurdish fighters. |
| At least 750 Isis affiliates escape Syria camp after Turkish shelling | At least 750 Isis affiliates escape Syria camp after Turkish shelling |
| Amira, whose surname is not known, told the BBC she left London at the age of five but recalled aspects of life in the UK, saying she would “go to a park, go to a funfair, go to a restaurant”. | Amira, whose surname is not known, told the BBC she left London at the age of five but recalled aspects of life in the UK, saying she would “go to a park, go to a funfair, go to a restaurant”. |
| Speaking in English, she then described the attack in which her parents and three siblings died. | Speaking in English, she then described the attack in which her parents and three siblings died. |
| “They were hitting so much,” she said. “There was a little house and that big dusty mountain and behind it everybody was dead. In front of us was everyone who was not killed, the other people. | “They were hitting so much,” she said. “There was a little house and that big dusty mountain and behind it everybody was dead. In front of us was everyone who was not killed, the other people. |
| “We were going to pack our stuff and get out, the airplane came and bombed. So then my mum died, my littlest brother, my little brother and my sister. Then after that, all was getting on fire. We had to walk out.” | “We were going to pack our stuff and get out, the airplane came and bombed. So then my mum died, my littlest brother, my little brother and my sister. Then after that, all was getting on fire. We had to walk out.” |
| A UK government spokesperson said: “There may be British children in internally displaced persons camps in Syria who, because of their age, are innocent victims of the conflict. We look at all evidence to determine someone’s nationality and will examine every single case where we are asked for consular assistance, but this process is far from straightforward.” | A UK government spokesperson said: “There may be British children in internally displaced persons camps in Syria who, because of their age, are innocent victims of the conflict. We look at all evidence to determine someone’s nationality and will examine every single case where we are asked for consular assistance, but this process is far from straightforward.” |
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