WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 01st May, 2019) The number of foreign terrorist fighters in custody in Syria is expected to increase dramatically as the processing of those already captured during the final days of the US-led coalition's campaign against the Islamic State terror group (banned in Russia) wraps up, US Counterterrorism Coordinator Nathan Sales said.
"There are currently about 1,000 confirmed foreign terrorist fighters in custody in Syria. That number is going to jump probably dramatically as our coalition partner forces complete the processing of prisoners taken into custody during the last days in the campaign against the caliphate," Sales said during an event at the Brookings Institution on Tuesday.
The United States stands firm in the belief that all foreign terrorist fighters should be repatriated by their respective countries and subsequently charged with any crime they committed, Sales said.
Washington has so far repatriated four US citizens and charged them with terrorism-related crimes, Sales pointed out, adding that US officials are aware of media reports suggesting there are additional fighters in custody in Syria who are US citizens.
"We take those reports seriously. We are looking into it. It's very difficult for us to verify citizenship in a war zone, particular where we don't have consular access. That's the case in Syria," Sales said.
Earlier on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump sharply criticized European nations for refusing to accept custody of Islamic State prisoners captured by US and allied forces in Syria.
