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Calls to help Sharrouf children, orphaned and stranded in Syria

A prominent lawyer has said he wants a commando raid to rescue five Australian children and a baby stranded in an Islamic State stronghold.

Their Sydney mother, Tara Nettleton, died in Raqqa after her husband was killed fighting for the IS group.

The children were said to be terrified and starving.

The Sharrouf children, who are believed to be stranded in Syria after their mother and father reportedly died.  Photo: 7 News
The Sharrouf children, who are believed to be stranded in Syria after their mother and father reportedly died. Photo: 7 News

Ms Nettleton’s mother, Karen Nettleton, said her daughter’s death was her worst experience.

She has the date of Tara’s death tattooed on her arm with the line: “My Baby… I’ll miss you forever’.

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Her grief was compounded knowing her five grandchildren and one great-grandchild are stranded in Syria, which Karen’s lawyer, Charles Waterstreet, described as “a hell hole”.

“They are scared and frightened. Absolutely terrified mainly because they’ve got no food,” Mr Waterstreet said.

The children’s father was Islamic State recruit Khaled Sharrouf, who made his son pose with severed heads.

Sharrouf was killed last June. Tara reportedly died from an appendicitis complication three months later.

The family lawyer wants Australia to rescue the children.

“There must be forces out there, some agents of authority who can implement a rescue plan,” Mr Waterstreet said.

Karen Nettleton's lawyer, Charles Waterstreet, said the children were living in 'a hell hole'. Photo: 7 News
Karen Nettleton's lawyer, Charles Waterstreet, said the children were living in 'a hell hole'. Photo: 7 News

The government said that was unrealistic.

“It’s very hard to get accurate information from warzones and in particular to verify whether or not somebody has been killed,” the Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said.

Others said the children were beyond help.

“These children are now captive to Islamic State, they’ve been indoctrinated to the poison of the Islamic State,” Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi said.

Karen Nettleton was too upset to speak on camera.

Through tears she said: “You have to understand, she was my only daughter”.

She said she only found out three weeks ago that Tara was dead.

A recent IS video purports to show four alleged spies being blown up by a 4-year-old British boy. Photo: 7 News
A recent IS video purports to show four alleged spies being blown up by a 4-year-old British boy. Photo: 7 News

A new IS video has warned against western infiltration, showing four alleged spies apparently blown up by a 4-year-old British boy.

Parents in Australia say Sharrouf’s children might still be saved.

“If they were in a loving home and provided with a loving environment, they probably wouldn’t do that,” Katherine McKay said.