France has repatriated 35 French children and 16 mothers from refugee camps in the northeast of Syria, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

"France has today undertaken the return to the country of 35 French minors who were in camps in northeast Syria. This operation also includes the return of 16 mothers from these same camps," a ministry statement said. The minors were handed over to child protection services while the mothers would face judicial proceedings, it said.