Pompeo tells Europe to take back Isil fighters from Syria

THE US has clashed with Europe over the fate of jihadists detained in Syria.

European countries are refusing the return of hundreds of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) fighters and thousands of family members held by the Western-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria.

Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, told foreign ministers that they had to hold these people “to account”, in a meeting of the international coalition against Isil in Washington.

“Coalition members must take back the thousands of foreign terrorist fighters in custody and impose accountability for the atrocities they have perpetrated,” he said.

Britain, which has taken one of the strongest stances against the return of its nationals, has deprived more that 100 of them of their UK citizenship.

France, which has also so far refused to accept back its citizens who fought with Isil, suggested that foreign suspects should be sent to Iraq for trial. Seven French nationals have already been tried in a court in Baghdad, where they were sentenced to death.

Nathan Sales, the US state department’s counter-terrorism co-ordinator, acknowledged that “there is, candidly, a difference of opinion about the best way to resolve this problem”.

He told reporters after the meeting: “We think there should be a sense of urgency to repatriate now while we still can.

“The United States thinks it’s inappropriate to ask Iraq in particular to shoulder the additional burden of foreign fighters, particularly from Europe.”

The SDF is currently holding around eight British men, 25 British woman and 60 of their children.

Turkey has begun a series of deportations of 959 Isil suspects, including more than 30 from Europe.