Sydney woman leaves children to join Islamic State

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 Jasmina Milovanov, who calls herself Assma Abdullah, left her two children with a babysitter last month, telling friends she needed to travel to Queensland to buy a new car.

A close friend to the 26-year-old said authorities visited family and friends after it was revealed she had left the country.
"The authorities were investigating those of us closest to her. I had police come to my house wanting to speak to me," the friend said.
"None of us had any idea but she's obviously been contemplating this for a while.
Sources close to the 26-year-old told the ABC they could not contact her when she did not return for her children.

They first became aware of Ms Milovanov's location when they received a message via Facebook that she had travelled to the Middle East.
"She never came back [but] we received a message on a Monday saying she was in Syria," a source said.
A Melbourne woman who travelled to Syria last year to marry her boyfriend sent a message to Ms Milovanov's friends.
"Zehra Duhman gave us initial confirmation that she'd gone over there. She said Assma [Jasmina] is safe. She recently made hijrah to Sham [Syria]. She's being looked after well."
Another close friend, who does not want to be identified, said Ms Milovanov often posted on social media about finding a husband.
"What we believe is Assma really wanted to get married, she was very lonely ... we think that's how they've encouraged her to go," the friend said.
"She's not a terrorist. I don't believe she's gone over there to fight.