Advertisement

Family tell of shock after Sydney mother abandons children to join IS

Reports say the 26-year-old mother has remarried in Syria. Photo: 7News

A family have spoken of their shock after a Sydney mother apparently abandoned her two children and ran off to Syria to start a new life with Islamic State.

Jasmina Mil-ovanov's mum has told 7News: "I am shocked before. I was shocked even before.

"But now we all trying to get through with our lives."

The 26-year-old reportedly hired a babysitter earlier this month, telling her that she was going to pick up a new car, but the mother of two never returned.

Jasmina's ex-husband claims she sent him a text message letting him know that she was in Syria and he believes she has now remarried there, News Corp reports.

Mil-ovanov is a convert to Islam and has two children in Western Sydney - a son and a daughter - aged 5 and 7.

There are fears she may have been lured by Melbourne's notorious jihadi bride recruiter Zehra Duman.

The federal government has announced a new frontbench position to combat Islamic radicalisation in Australia and to liaise with Muslim leaders.

The post, to be announced within days, is said to aim to improve relations with at-risk communities and tackle the appeal of jihadist teaching, News Corp has reported.

The move is part of a raft of new counter-terrorism measures.