They were taken from Geneva to Syria by their mother in 2016 when she joined the Islamic State terror group. The mother and two half-sisters ended up in the Kurdish controlled Roj detainment camp in northeastern Syria.
The fate of the two girls received intensive media scrutiny and the Swiss authorities were urged to intervene.
On Monday, the foreign ministry confirmedExternal link that the girls had arrived at Geneva Airport in Switzerland having first been transferred to Iraq.
In Geneva they will be under the care of child welfare services and receive counselling before a decision is taken on whether they can be reunited with their fathers, according to SRF.
“In order to protect the children and their privacy, no further information can be provided on this repatriation,” the foreign ministry stated on Monday.
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What will happen to Swiss minors stuck in Syrian camps?
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Despite pleas from international bodies, Switzerland refuses to repatriate adults, leaving seven Swiss children stranded in the war-torn country.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
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The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), Swissinfo's parent company, must restructure due to financial pressures and to stay competitive in the fast-moving media environment.
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There has been a sharp decline in the consumption of single-use disposable plastic bags and reusable plastic bags in the Swiss retail sector.
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A biometric Swiss identity card (ID) is expected to be available in Switzerland by the end of 2026. The Federal Office of Police and its federal and cantonal partners are working on a new ID card that features a chip.
Heatwave reduces output at Swiss nuclear power plant by 50%
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The ongoing heatwave has forced the Beznau nuclear power plant, which relies on water from the River Aare, to halve its output.
Swiss continue to enjoy high social mobility, study shows
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Opportunities for upward social mobility have remained intact in Switzerland since the 1980s. Social mobility is exceptionally high by international comparison, a study shows.
Swiss government affected by cyberattack on health foundation
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Switzerland says a ransomware attack on the non-profit health foundation Radix that involved data being stolen and encrypted had also affected the federal administration.
Federal Council agrees to investigation into alleged Swiss-Russian spying affair
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The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland can open spying investigations into the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (FIS).
Appeal launched against Starlink satellite antennae project planned in Swiss village
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A group of Swiss citizens has filed an appeal against plans to install 40 Starlink satellite antennae in the mountain village of Leuk in southern Switzerland.
UBS launches buyback scheme for up to $2 billion in shares
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UBS is starting a share buyback programme for up to $2 billion (CHF1.6 billion) in shares, in line with a plan approved at its annual general meeting (AGM) in April, the Swiss bank said on Monday.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
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What will happen to Swiss minors stuck in Syrian camps?
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Despite pleas from international bodies, Switzerland refuses to repatriate adults, leaving seven Swiss children stranded in the war-torn country.
Switzerland slammed for abandoning two minors in Syria
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Switzerland is under pressure to repatriate two young Swiss girls living in a makeshift camp established in northeast Syria after the fall of the Islamic State group (ISIS). The United Nations human rights experts issued a statement on Thursday urging Switzerland to bring back two half-sisters, aged 8 and 14, who were allegedly abducted by…
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The Swiss government has rejected calls to actively repatriate Islamic militants with Swiss nationality from Syria or Iraq.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.