Donald Trump calls on Europe to take back Islamic State foreign fighters captured in Syria
5 years, 10 months ago

Donald Trump calls on Europe to take back Islamic State foreign fighters captured in Syria

ABC  

While heralding what he said was the imminent defeat of Islamic State in Syria, Donald Trump has called on Europe to take back more than 800 foreign fighters captured in Syria and put them on trial. Key points: US-backed fighters in Syria say they are poised to capture ISIS's last stronghold Most of the remaining IS fighters are said to be foreigners who travelled to Syria Few governments want to repatriate fighters who could be hard to prosecute The US President said on Saturday the militant group was "ready to fall", a day after signalling there would be "great announcements" about Syria over the next 24 hours. "The United States is asking Britain, France, Germany and other European allies to take back over 800 ISIS fighters that we captured in Syria and put them on trial," he wrote on Twitter. US Army General Joseph Votel, who oversees US forces in the Middle East, said the end of the territorial caliphate would lead to a more dispersed, harder-to-detect network of fighters waging guerrilla warfare.

Europe Syria Islamic State Fighters Islamic Isis Sdf Baghdadi State Foreign  fighters  donald  syria  isis  europe  state  foreign  sdf  remaining  repatriate  group  hard  islamic  calls  captured  trump  forces  ready

History of this topic

US troops need to stay in Syria to counter the Islamic State group, Austin says
2 days, 8 hours ago

US troops need to stay in Syria to counter the Islamic State group, Austin says

Associated Press  

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — The U.S. needs to keep troops deployed in Syria to prevent the Islamic State group from reconstituting as a major threat following the ouster of Bashar Assad’s government, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told The Associated Press. If Syria is left unprotected, “I think ISIS fighters would enter back into the mainstream,” Austin said at Ramstein …

How the US is taking on Islamic State amid the Syria crisis
4 weeks, 2 days ago

How the US is taking on Islamic State amid the Syria crisis

Firstpost  

The US launched massive airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Syria, aiming to prevent the group from exploiting the leadership vacuum left by President Bashar Assad’s ousting. Striking 75 sites with precision bombers, the US seeks to curb IS resurgence and maintain regional stability United States President Joe Biden speaks about the sudden collapse of the Syrian government under Bashar …

US-backed Syrian force that defeated IS 5 years ago warns group still poses international threat
9 months, 2 weeks ago

US-backed Syrian force that defeated IS 5 years ago warns group still poses international threat

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — The U.S.-backed force that defeated the Islamic State group in Syria five years ago warned Saturday that the extremists still pose grave dangers throughout the world and called on the international community to find solutions for thousands of fighters still held in its jails. On March 23, 2019, SDF fighters captured the eastern Syrian village of Baghouz marking …

US military captures key Islamic State militant during helicopter raid in Syria
1 year, 3 months ago

US military captures key Islamic State militant during helicopter raid in Syria

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military said Monday it had captured an operator for the Islamic State extremist group during a helicopter raid in northern Syria. The operator, Abu Halil al-Fad’ani, “was assessed to have relationships throughout the ISIS network in the region,” U.S. Central Command said in a statement. The U.S. has approximately 900 troops in Syria focused on countering …

Syria’s Kurds to try IS fighters after their home countries refused to repatriate them
1 year, 7 months ago

Syria’s Kurds to try IS fighters after their home countries refused to repatriate them

Associated Press  

QAMISHLI, Syria — The Kurdish-led authority in northeast Syria announced Saturday that hundreds of fighters with the Islamic State group held in prisons around the region will be put on trial after their home countries refused to repatriate them. The U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, is holding over 10,000 captured IS fighters in around two dozen detention …

Inside U.S. troops’ stronghold in Syria, a question of how long Biden will keep them there
3 years, 9 months ago

Inside U.S. troops’ stronghold in Syria, a question of how long Biden will keep them there

LA Times  

A U.S. soldier sits in an armored vehicle in Manbij, northern Syria, in 2018. The Biden administration does not appear to be in any rush to pull out the 900 U.S. troops who remain in the country, a relatively small force that some White House officials see as key to preventing a resurgence of Islamic State and a rush to …

'Let's be serious': Macron slaps down Trump on live TV after he threatens to send ISIS fighters to France
5 years, 1 month ago

'Let's be serious': Macron slaps down Trump on live TV after he threatens to send ISIS fighters to France

Raw Story  

On Tuesday, in a joint press conference with French President Emanuel Macron, President Donald Trump attempted to suggest France should take custody of some of the captured ISIS fighters in Syria — to which Macron summarily slapped him down. "We have a tremendous amount of captured fighters, ISIS fighters over in Syria, and they're all under lock and key, but …

Trump says he’s ‘the one that did the capturing’ in Syria
5 years, 2 months ago

Trump says he’s ‘the one that did the capturing’ in Syria

CNN  

Washington CNN — President Donald Trump spoke at length during a Cabinet meeting on Monday about his decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria – arguing that the US never agreed to protect Syrian Kurds forever, suggesting the US may secure an oil deal for the Kurds to bolster their finances and saying he’s “the one that did the …

Trump dismisses Syria concerns; Dems walk out of WH meeting
5 years, 2 months ago

Trump dismisses Syria concerns; Dems walk out of WH meeting

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Washing his hands of Syria, President Donald Trump declared Wednesday the U.S. has no stake in defending the Kurdish fighters who died by the thousands as America’s partners against IS extremists. White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham called Pelosi’s action “baffling but not surprising.” She said the speaker “had no intention of listening or contributing to an important meeting …

US pulling out of northern Syria; full withdrawal possible
5 years, 2 months ago

US pulling out of northern Syria; full withdrawal possible

India TV News  

The United States appears to be heading toward a full military withdrawal from Syria amid growing chaos, cries of betrayal and signs that Turkey’s invasion could fuel a broader war. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Sunday that President Donald Trump had directed U.S. troops in northern Syria to begin pulling out “as safely and quickly as possible.” He did not …

Trump’s Syria withdrawal decision sparks scramble to safely remove US troops
5 years, 2 months ago

Trump’s Syria withdrawal decision sparks scramble to safely remove US troops

CNN  

Washington CNN — President Donald Trump’s order to the Pentagon this weekend to withdraw nearly all of the 1,000 US troops from Syria has sparked an urgent effort at the highest levels of the Pentagon to ensure they can be brought out safely. An undisclosed number of US security forces will also go into Syria to help with security as …

Syria’s Kurds look to Assad for protection after US pullout
5 years, 2 months ago

Syria’s Kurds look to Assad for protection after US pullout

Associated Press  

AKCAKALE, Turkey — Syria’s Kurds said Syrian government forces agreed Sunday to help them fend off Turkey’s invasion — a major shift in alliances that came after President Donald Trump ordered all U.S. troops withdrawn from the northern border area amid the rapidly deepening chaos. The fast-deteriorating situation was set in motion last week, when Trump ordered U.S. troops in …

Turkey: Erdogan threatens to flood Europe with refugees as Syria offensive ramps up
5 years, 3 months ago

Turkey: Erdogan threatens to flood Europe with refugees as Syria offensive ramps up

CNN  

CNN — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to allow millions of refugees into Europe if it described Turkey’s military offensive in northeast Syria as an “occupation.” Erdogan told the European Union to “come to your senses” during a speech in the capital Ankara on Thursday. The International Rescue Committee said in a statement Thursday: “As Turkish offensive in …

Trump’s Syria policy dismays Europe as Turkey launches campaign
5 years, 3 months ago

Trump’s Syria policy dismays Europe as Turkey launches campaign

Al Jazeera  

EU leaders to face questions on what’s next for foreign fighters detained in Syria and their loyalty to Kurdish forces. “At this moment in time, there is shock and condemnation from the European governments, which most Kurdish activists would welcome, but what could they do to actually stop Trump from behaving this way or to stop Turkey from invading SDF-held …

US takes custody of two high-profile ISIL fighters
5 years, 3 months ago

US takes custody of two high-profile ISIL fighters

Al Jazeera  

The military is holding the two men, part of a cell notorious for beheading its hostages, at an undisclosed location. “I can confirm that we’ve taken custody of two high-value ISIS individuals from the SDF,” a defence official told AFP news agency on Wednesday on condition of anonymity, referring to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. “They are being held in …

Trump’s Decision To Abandon Syria’s Kurds Met With Immediate Broad Condemnation
5 years, 3 months ago

Trump’s Decision To Abandon Syria’s Kurds Met With Immediate Broad Condemnation

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING WASHINGTON — The U.S. must escape the “Endless Wars” in the Middle East, President Donald Trump repeatedly declares. “It has had a direct and negative impact, although how catastrophic remains to be seen.” On Wednesday, Trump himself called Turkey’s military assault a “bad idea” that the U.S. did not “endorse.” U.S. officials held out hope that the …

Uncertainty over jailed ISIL suspects’ fate before looming push
5 years, 3 months ago

Uncertainty over jailed ISIL suspects’ fate before looming push

Al Jazeera  

US says Turkey to be responsible for captives held by SDF but analysts say it is unclear if Ankara has such capacity. Mutlu Civiroglu, an analyst based in Washington, DC, said there was “no doubt” ISIL would take advantage of the situation created by a Turkish operation. 191007141408983 While the US says the ISIL captives are now Turkey’s responsibility, Civiroglu …

Former Trump Envoy: Syria Withdrawal Is 'Haphazard' And 'Almost Unprecedented'
5 years, 3 months ago

Former Trump Envoy: Syria Withdrawal Is 'Haphazard' And 'Almost Unprecedented'

NPR  

Former Trump Envoy: Syria Withdrawal Is 'Haphazard' And 'Almost Unprecedented' Enlarge this image toggle caption Delil Souleiman/AFP/Getty Images Delil Souleiman/AFP/Getty Images As President Trump defends his decision to pull away some U.S. troops from Syria's border with Turkey, the president's former envoy for the fight against the so-called Islamic State is raising alarms about how potentially destabilizing the move can …

Donald Trump walks away from Syria and Republican allies: US president plunges into deeper isolation amid impeachment proceedings
5 years, 3 months ago

Donald Trump walks away from Syria and Republican allies: US president plunges into deeper isolation amid impeachment proceedings

Firstpost  

The White House issued a statement on Sunday that it was effectively abandoning the Kurds who did most of the fighting alongside US forces to against Islamic State extremists. Washington: Donald Trump’s abrupt reversal of policy in Syria plunged his presidency into even deeper isolation Monday, right when the ex-real estate tycoon needs all the allies he can get to …

US to step aside for Turkish assault on Kurds in Syria
5 years, 3 months ago

US to step aside for Turkish assault on Kurds in Syria

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The White House said Sunday that U.S. forces in northeast Syria will move aside and clear the way for an expected Turkish assault, essentially abandoning Kurdish fighters who fought alongside American forces in the yearslong battle to defeat Islamic State militants. America should keep their word.” One of the show’s hosts, Brian Kilmeade, asked McCarthy to try to …

Timeline: US intervention in Syria’s war since 2011
5 years, 3 months ago

Timeline: US intervention in Syria’s war since 2011

Al Jazeera  

Round-up of US actions – from sanctioning Syrians in April 2011 to pulling out forces from border area in October 2019. As US forces pull back from parts of northern Syria and make way for a threatened Turkish military offensive, here is a recap of Washington’s involvement in the Syrian conflict. Trump orders strikes On April 7, 2017, US forces …

US officials say more than 2,000 suspected foreign ISIS fighters being held in Syria
5 years, 8 months ago

US officials say more than 2,000 suspected foreign ISIS fighters being held in Syria

CNN  

CNN — The number of suspected foreign ISIS fighters being detained by US-backed forces in Syria has now surpassed 2,000, with a small number claiming to be US citizens, three US officials told CNN. “These are women and children, and the vast majority of these are assessed not to be sort of innocent civilians these are people who have chosen …

US-backed forces declare victory over Islamic State in Syria after freeing last pocket held by militants
5 years, 9 months ago

US-backed forces declare victory over Islamic State in Syria after freeing last pocket held by militants

Firstpost  

US-backed forces declared military victory over the Islamic State group in Syria on Saturday after liberating the last pocket of territory held by the militants, marking the end of a brutal self-styled caliphate the group carved out in large parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014. Baghouz: US-backed forces declared military victory over the Islamic State group in Syria on …

US-backed Syrian forces launch attack on final Isis enclave
5 years, 10 months ago

US-backed Syrian forces launch attack on final Isis enclave

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy US-backed Syrian forces have launched …

More than 150 Islamic State militants handed over to Iraq from Syria
5 years, 10 months ago

More than 150 Islamic State militants handed over to Iraq from Syria

LA Times  

U.S.-backed Syrian forces fighting Islamic State in Syria handed over more than 150 Iraqi members of the group to Iraq, the first batch of several to come, an Iraqi security official said Thursday. The official said the Islamic State militants were handed over to the Iraqi side late Wednesday, and that they were now in a “safe place” and being …

Burden of victory: What should happen to European ISIL prisoners?
5 years, 10 months ago

Burden of victory: What should happen to European ISIL prisoners?

Al Jazeera  

Fate of more than 1,000 European ISIL prisoners, detained by Kurdish forces in northern Syria, hangs in the balance. “We currently have thousands of foreign ISIS fighters and their family members, and it’s a big logistical problem,” said Kino Gabriel, spokesperson for the SDF. ‘Extremely difficult’ The fighters and their families,captured by SDF, are stuck in limbo, unwanted by their …

Commander of US-backed forces fighting ISIS asks US to keep troops in Syria
5 years, 10 months ago

Commander of US-backed forces fighting ISIS asks US to keep troops in Syria

CNN  

CNN — The commander of the US-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces is asking the US and its coalition partners to provide air support and keep up to 1,500 troops in Syria as part of an effort to stabilize the country. Mazloum told reporters that Votel is “working” on his proposal for an enduring coalition presence but Votel later emphasized …

Trump tells Europe to take back ISIS fighters
5 years, 10 months ago

Trump tells Europe to take back ISIS fighters

CNN  

CNN — In a series of tweets, President Donald Trump has said European countries should take back and put on trial hundreds of ISIS fighters who have been captured in Syria. “The US does not want to watch as these ISIS fighters permeate Europe, which is where they are expected to go.” The United States is asking Britain, France, Germany …

Top US general says defeat in Syria wouldn’t ‘mean the end’ for ISIS
5 years, 11 months ago

Top US general says defeat in Syria wouldn’t ‘mean the end’ for ISIS

CNN  

Cairo CNN — As the assault to retake ISIS’s last enclave of territory in Syria continues, the top US general overseeing the fight against the terror group warned Monday that if the terror group loses that fight it “doesn’t mean the end of the organization.” “Liberation of the terrain that ISIS holds is important, it’s an important objective for us …

ISIS to lose all territory within week, says Trump a day after State of the Union address
5 years, 11 months ago

ISIS to lose all territory within week, says Trump a day after State of the Union address

India Today  

The Islamic State will be "100 per cent" defeated in Iraq and Syria by next week, US President Donald Trump has claimed as he boasted his administration's new approach for directly confronting the terror outfit's "wicked" ideology. The United States military, its Coalition partners and the Syrian Democratic Forces have liberated virtually all of the territory previously held by the …

Islamic State hold in Syria, Iraq on verge of collapse, but fight not over, says US commander General Joseph Votel
5 years, 11 months ago

Islamic State hold in Syria, Iraq on verge of collapse, but fight not over, says US commander General Joseph Votel

Firstpost  

General Joseph Votel, told a Senate committee on Tuesday that of the 34,000 square miles of territory that Islamic State once held, it now controls less than 20 square miles, but the coalition’s hard-won battlefield gains can only be secured by maintaining a vigilant offensive against the violent extremists Washington: President Donald Trump is expected to declare near-total triumph over …

US withdrawal from Syria could revive Islamic State, bring more West Asian players in an already complex war
6 years ago

US withdrawal from Syria could revive Islamic State, bring more West Asian players in an already complex war

Firstpost  

The US presence in Syria ensures a professional performance by the Free Syrian Army and its coordination with the Kurdish SDF. Both have the common aim of preventing Islamic State’s resurgence as also giving way to a Syrian government victory Total US military withdrawal from Syria and a similar partial pull back from Afghanistan are intrinsically linked, but US president …

US envoy to anti-Islamic State coalition Brett McGurk resigns in protest over Donald Trump's Syria withdrawal
6 years ago

US envoy to anti-Islamic State coalition Brett McGurk resigns in protest over Donald Trump's Syria withdrawal

Firstpost  

McGurk, appointed to the post by President Barack Obama in 2015 and retained by Trump, said in his resignation letter that the militants were on the run, but not yet defeated, and that the premature pullout of American forces from Syria would create the conditions that gave rise to Islamic State Washington: Brett McGurk, the US envoy to the global …

Trump Declares Victory Over ISIS in Syria – Is He Correct?
6 years ago

Trump Declares Victory Over ISIS in Syria – Is He Correct?

The Quint  

TRUMP: “We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency.” - tweet on 19 December. THE FACTS: The militants still hold a string of villages and towns along the Euphrates River in eastern Syria, where they have resisted weeks of attacks by the US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces to drive them out. The SDF, …

Trump orders full and immediate withdrawal of US troops from Syria
6 years ago

Trump orders full and immediate withdrawal of US troops from Syria

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Donald Trump has ordered a …

Syria: World reacts to Trump’s decision to pull US troops out
6 years ago

Syria: World reacts to Trump’s decision to pull US troops out

Al Jazeera  

UK, France stunned, while Russia and Turkey sense opportunity to advance own agenda, as Trump says ISIL is defeated. Trump’s declaration that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group had been “defeated” was not endorsed by allies who have fought alongside the US in Syria. We will continue to work with members of the Coalition on achieving this.” …

How Is The World Reacting To Trump's Decision To Withdraw From Syria?
6 years ago

How Is The World Reacting To Trump's Decision To Withdraw From Syria?

NPR  

How Is The World Reacting To Trump's Decision To Withdraw From Syria? Here's a roundup of some key players: Sponsor Message Syrians Israel Turkey Russia France Enlarge this image toggle caption Delil Souleiman/AFP/Getty Images Delil Souleiman/AFP/Getty Images In Raqqa, fears of a power vacuum "The Syrian Democratic Forces — that's the U.S.'s local Kurdish led partner there — are saying …

'US has defeated Islamic State': After Donald Trump tweet, officials announce full withdrawal of troops from Syria
6 years ago

'US has defeated Islamic State': After Donald Trump tweet, officials announce full withdrawal of troops from Syria

Firstpost  

The United States will withdraw its troops from Syria, a US official said on Wednesday, after President Donald Trump said America has defeated Islamic State in the war-ravaged country Washington: The United States will withdraw its troops from Syria, a US official said on Wednesday, after President Donald Trump said America has “defeated Islamic State” in the war-ravaged country. “We …

Trump orders rapid withdrawal from Syria in apparent reversal
6 years ago

Trump orders rapid withdrawal from Syria in apparent reversal

CNN  

Washington CNN — President Donald Trump has ordered staff to execute the “full” and “rapid” withdrawal of US military from Syria, declaring that the US has defeated ISIS. “I’m pretty annoyed,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and Trump ally, who told CNN’s Manu Raju the President’s decision was “Obama-like” – a reference to President Barack Obama’s decision …

As Kurdish fighters move on last Isis-controlled town in Syria, Turkey threatens attack
6 years ago

As Kurdish fighters move on last Isis-controlled town in Syria, Turkey threatens attack

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Kurdish forces are on the …

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