Australian terrorist's reported death in Iraq raises potential for his family's repatriation

CANBERRA, Australia – Reports that an Australian terrorist has been killed fighting in Iraq have raised the potential for his young family to be repatriated from the Middle East.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Tuesday that Australian intelligence agencies are attempting to verify the recent deaths of Australians Khaled Sharrouf and Mohamed Elomar in the Islamic State-held city of Mosul in Iraq.

Fairfax Media newspapers reported last month that the Australian family of Sharrouf's Muslim-convert wife, Tara Nettleton, are trying to help her bring her three young boys and two teenage daughters from Syria home to Sydney.

Bishop says Sharrouf's death will have to be verified before Australia will consider repatriating the family.