A group of Australian men held in a Baghdad prison, including the husbands of two so-called "ISIS brides", could be released as Iraqi authorities move to deport detainees deemed "non-combatants". The men are suspected of having fought for or been linked to the Islamic State terror group, and their possible release matters because it follows the earlier return to Australia of a cohort of women associated with ISIS, raising fresh questions about how Australia handles citizens tied to the group.

Among those held is Mohammed Ahmad, husband of Kawsar Abbas, and Nabil Kadmiry, whose wife Kirsty Rosse-Emile recently returned to Australia. Also believed to be detained is Yusuf Zahab, son of an ISIS bride, who was separated from his mother as a child. The men, said to be living in cramped and dangerous conditions, will be questioned by US officials and Iraqi authorities about any involvement with Islamic State. An Iraqi Correctional Services official said the Australians form part of a larger group of detainees to be interviewed, with no set timeline for when this will happen.