Sally Faulkner Reunited with Children Almost a Decade After Botched ‘Child Retrieval’
After nearly ten years apart, Sally Faulkner, an Australian mother, has been reunited in a legal and emotional victory with her two eldest children following a long, traumatic international custody battle that began in 2015.
The Beginning: What Went Wrong in 2015-16
In 2015, Sally Faulkner’s former partner, Ali Elamine, took their children, Lahela (then aged 5) and Noah (aged 3), from Australia to Lebanon, purportedly for a holiday — but they were not returned.
Faulkner, desperate to get them back, enlisted the help of 60 Minutes and a private “child recovery” agency led by Adam Whittington. The plan was to retrieve the children from a Beirut street and bring them back to Australia.
The attempted retrieval went badly. Sally Faulkner, the 60 Minutes crew, and members of the child-recovery team were arrested in Lebanon on kidnapping and related charges.
Under duress, detained in Lebanon, Faulkner signed away her legal custody rights—though she claims she did so while handcuffed and without a proper English translation.
What Happened While They Were Apart
Faulkner remained largely without contact for years. Only occasional video calls or messages.
The legal battles spanned jurisdictions: Australian, Lebanese, and later — U.S. courts when the children moved to U.S. soil.
The public narrative was strongly shaped by the 60 Minutes episode; opinions were divided. Some saw Faulkner’s actions as understandable desperation; others criticised the recklessness and legal implications.
Recent Turn: Children in Georgia, USA
Fast-forward to 2024: amid the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Ali Elamine relocated the children from Lebanon to the U.S. state of Georgia, citing safety concerns.
Upon learning this, Sally Faulkner traveled to Georgia and engaged with U.S. courts. She filed a temporary protection order alleging past abuse, and from that legal footing, she sought custody.
In November 2024, she arranged to visit the children under what she and her lawyers say were the appearance of cooperation with Elamine. But shortly before, she had also filed the protection order without his knowledge. When he was served, she left with the children.
Legal Outcome & Reunification Efforts
In January 2025, a Georgia court granted Faulkner temporary custody to allow her to participate in a reunification program due to the children’s long estrangement from their mother. The youngest child reportedly had no memories of living with her.
The court used a program called Family Bridges, intended to help children re-build bonds with a parent after being alienated or disconnected.
Elamine opposed some elements of the program, particularly periods when he would not have contact with the children. Some U.S. states have banned or limited these kinds of programs, citing concerns over efficacy and potential harm.
Sally Returns Home — For Now
Early in 2025, Sally Faulkner returned to Queensland, Australia, with Lahela and Noah under the auspices of her temporary custody ruling. It’s not a full legal resolution but a significant breakthrough after years apart.
The Australian government reportedly helped fund her legal fight, and Australian embassy officials were present in some court proceedings.
Emotional & Legal Challenges Remaining
The children have gone through a major disruption: years apart from their mother, living abroad, possibly with limited knowledge of their maternal side. Reunification may be emotionally difficult.
Legal custody is only temporary, and the full case is still before U.S. courts. Permanent custody and visitation rights remain to be decided.
There are still disputes over whether programs like Family Bridges are appropriate, especially under circumstances of alleged parental alienation.
Also read: Lachlan Rofe, Former MAFS and Farmer Wants A Wife Star at 47
What This Means
This case is a striking example of how international custody disputes can become enormously complex — crossing not just borders but legal systems, cultures, and media scrutiny.
It also underscores how desperation can push parents toward risky, legally fraught actions. Sally Faulkner has long maintained that her initial attempt, however ill-fated, was born of love, desperation, and the refusal to give up.
As of now, she has her children back in Australia for the short term, reunited physically. But the legal, psychological, and emotional work remains ahead for her, her children, and their shared future.
