France will repatriate some 130 suspected Daesh fighters who are currently detained in Syria, and will ensure they face trial, according to French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner.

Speaking to BFMTV earlier this morning, Castaner said that numerous fighters are expected to be repatriated in the coming weeks, but that they will almost definitely face a prison sentence.

“All those who will return to France will be judged in court. If the judge estimates that it will be necessary to incarcerate them, and that will be the usual case, they will be put in jail,” he said. “Some have already returned, we put them in prison, we know them, and those who come back will be put in prison.”

The move makes France the first European country to take back citizens arrested on suspicion of fighting for Daesh. Whilst the US, Lebanon, Russia, Indonesia and Sudan, have so far agreed to repatriate their nationals, European nations have wrestled with how to handle suspected militants and their families after the terror group lost swathes of territory to the international coalition last year.

The news also marks a departure from France’s previous position of refusing to take back fighters and their wives. However in October, Paris did agree to repatriate the children of Daesh fighters, leaving their mothers to be tried by forces in the north of Syria.

READ: Russia jails 11 Daesh members

Some 60 women, including 40 mothers with about 150 minors, have been reported in Syria by their families in France. The majority of the children are under the age of six, with officials concerned that if they remain in Syria, they could also eventually become militants.

The north of Syria is currently managed by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), made up primarily of Kurdish militia units driven by a federalist vision for future governance.

Earlier this year, the Pentagon announced that the SDF are currently holding nearly 600 foreign fighters from over 40 nationalities in custody, but emphasised that it would not be able to hold them indefinitely. The SDF has since been asking for financial support and for foreign governments to take back fighters to ease their burden.

In the aftermath of the news of the US’ withdrawal from Syria last month, the SDF threatened to release some 3,200 Daesh fighters and their families, if they did not receive sufficient international support. However, France subsequently affirmed its commitment to continue the fight alongside the Kurds; some 1,100 French soldiers are believed to currently be in Syria.

“The announced withdrawal of our American ally should not deflect us from our strategic objective to eradicate Daesh,” Macron said in a speech to the armed forces in Toulouse.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also stated earlier this month that France would not withdraw from Syria until a political solution was reached.

READ: Over 600 US troops arrive in Syria to secure withdrawal</s>Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy.</s>France is reporting planning to repatriate more than 100 Isil suspects from Syria amid fears they could lose track of them after US troops withdraw from the war-torn country.

Some 130 Islamic State suspects being held in custody by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in prisons across northern Syria are to be sent back within the next few weeks, according to French channel BFMTV.

"All those who will return to France will be entrusted to the judges. The judge will decide that it will be necessary to put them in prison," Christophe Castaner, France’s Interior Minister, told BFMTV.

“The Americans are disengaging from Syria… There are now people in prison who are being held because the Americans are there and who are going to be released… They’ll want to return to France.”

Among those in SDF custody are a number of senior French Isil leaders including Adrien Guihal, a Muslim who was part of the infamous Artigat network that masterminded several attacks in France, including one in Nice which killed 87 people.

Such a decision would make France the first European country to take back citizens arrested on suspicion of links to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil). Only the US, Lebanon, Russia, Indonesia and Sudan, have so far agreed to repatriate their nationals.</s>France's government is preparing for an influx of homegrown jihadis with the departure of U.S. troops from Syria, saying Tuesday that anyone who left to fight for Islamic extremists will go straight to jail.

In an interview with BFM television, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said that a handful of French jihadis had already returned and more would follow soon. Neither he nor France's foreign ministry confirmed BFM's report that as many as 130 could come back within weeks.

"The Americans are leaving Syria. It's important to keep that in mind," Castaner said. "There are a certain number who are imprisoned because the Americans are there, and they will be freed. They will want to return to France."

The question of what to do with foreigners who joined the Islamic State group has grown increasingly thorny as the U.S. departure looms.

French jihadis made up the largest contingent of European recruits, and in 2015 and 2016 an Islamic State cell of French and Belgian fighters who sneaked in from Turkey attacked Paris and Brussels.

Britain refuses to take back citizens who joined the group and has stripped their citizenship. Other European countries have remained largely silent about the fate of men and women whom many see as a security threat.

"These are people who have voluntarily joined a terrorist organization ... that has committed attacks in France and continues to threaten us," France's foreign ministry said.

Castaner said all would be jailed immediately in France and face trial, but declined to provide details.

Kurdish authorities in Syria have detained 900 foreign members of the group, and 4,000 family of IS members, according to Ilham Ahmed, a senior Syrian Kurdish official. Russia has taken some of the recruits back and jailed them.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there are at least 78 French women and children who had recently come out of the last stronghold of IS in eastern Syria. This is in addition to another 65 previously evacuated from other IS held areas and in Kurdish custody. It was not clear if Castaner was also speaking of civilians and families of IS members.

Castaner said a small number had already returned to France, although it's not clear whether they had voluntarily surrendered or were repatriated, or whether he meant fighters or their families.

In April, then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said French special forces had joined American troops in Syria.</s>France is planning to repatriate more than 100 Isil suspects from Syria amid fears they could lose track of them after US troops withdraw from the war-torn country.

France is planning to repatriate more than 100 Isil suspects from Syria amid fears they could lose track of them after US troops withdraw from the war-torn country.

Some 130 Isil suspects being held in custody by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in prisons across northern Syria are to be sent back within the next few weeks, according to French channel BFMTV.

"All those who will return to France will be entrusted to the judges. The judge will decide that it will be necessary to put them in prison," Christophe Castaner, France's Interior Minister, told BFMTV.

"The Americans are disengaging from Syria… There are now people in prison who are being held because the Americans are there and who are going to be released… They'll want to return to France."

Among those in SDF custody are a number of senior French Isil leaders including Adrien Guihal, a Muslim who was part of the infamous Artigat network that masterminded several attacks in France, including one in Nice which killed 87 people.

Such a decision would make France the first European country to take back citizens arrested on suspicion of links to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

Only the US, Lebanon, Russia, Indonesia and Sudan, have so far agreed to repatriate their nationals.

Thousands of other foreign Isil members in SDF detention remain in limbo, including six British male Isil suspects, seven women and 12 of their children.

Britain and other countries have expressed reluctance to take back those with links to Isil, citing fears they represent a security threat.

They have also indicated concern about evidential and legal challenges that would prevent them from prosecuting returning extremists.

Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, the two so-called Beatles jihadists, have had their UK citizenship revoked.

The Kurdish-led SDF has been supported on the ground by US special forces, as well as British and French.

However, US President Donald Trump announced he was to bring home 2,000 American troops within months.

Following the announcement, Turkey, which considers Kurdish militants fighting with the SDF to be terrorists, threatened to carry out an assault on Kurdish-held areas near their shared border.

The Kurds warned they may not be able to keep jihadists inside their jails.

There also remains the possibility that the SDF, which has begun talks with the Bashar al-Assad government, could hand over prisoners to the regime.

Tens of thousands have disappeared inside government prisons, where many were executed without trial.

"Reversal of French policy with respect to Isil suspects held in northern Syria, as France finally agrees to take its nationals back," Nadim Houry, director of the counterterrorism programme at Human Rights Watch, tweeted. "This may be unpopular but it is the right thing to do. Prosecute those who committed crimes, reintegrate children."

The plan provoked outrage on the right. Eric Ciotti, a conservative MP from the main opposition party, the Republicans, said: "The place of jihadists who betrayed our nation and fought our civilisation is no longer in France. Let them be judged in Iraq or Syria."

Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader, also took exception to a remark by Mr Castaner that those in Syria and Iraq "are jihadists, but they were French first". "Non @CCastaner They are jihadists, they should no longer be French," she tweeted. (© Daily Telegraph London)</s>The individuals are being detained in northeast Syria by US-backed Kurdish soldiers with the Syrian Democratic Forces. The development reportedly came about after Kurdish forces began questioning their ability to continue safeguarding the jails after US forces withdraw from the region.

"All those who will return to France will be entrusted to the judges. The judge will decide that it will be necessary to put them in prison," France's Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told BFM TV on Tuesday.

"The Americans are disengaging from Syria… There are now people in prison who are being held because the Americans are there and who are going to be released… They'll want to return to France."

In a statement to Bloomberg, Castaner revealed that the reported number of 130 militants is "not at all confirmed," adding that officials are presently "examining all options to avoid the escape or dispersion of these potentially dangerous individuals."

Citing the Soufan Center, a nonprofit risk advisory organization, Bloomberg reported that an estimated 2,000 French citizens are said to have joined the Daesh terror group since the Syrian civil war began in 2011.

Nadim Houry, the director of the Human Rights Watch's terrorism and counterterrorism program, took to Twitter to hail the move. "Major reversal of French policy with respect to [Daesh] suspects held in northern Syria. France finally agrees to take its nationals back," he said.

"This may be unpopular, but it is the right thing to do. Prosecute those who committed crimes, reintegrate children."

Not everyone, however, is thrilled with Castaner's stance. French politician Marine Le Pen, president of the National Front party, criticized the minister's remarks, in which he stated that while the individuals are jihadists, "they were French first."

The Neuilly-sur-Seine born politician shot back at Castaner on Twitter, saying, "No [Castaner]! They are jihadists, so they should no longer be French."

The move would ultimately make France the first western European country to repatriate citizens arrested over ties to Daesh forces. According to the Telegraph, only the US, Lebanon, Russia, Indonesia and Sudan have agreed to do so.</s>France is worried that French prisoners held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) could be released or escape after US President Donald

Trump announced plans last month to pull American forces out of Syria.

"Given the development of the military situation in north-east Syria, the American decisions, and to ensure the security of the French, we are examining all options to avoid the escape and scattering of these potentially dangerous individuals," the French foreign ministry said in a statement.

"If the forces who are guarding the French fighters took the decision to expel them to France they would be immediately placed in the hands of the law," it added.

Making clear that the jihadists -- many of whom enlisted with Islamic State -- would face the full weight of the law, the ministry added: "These people

voluntarily joined a terrorist organisation which is fighting in the Levant, carried out attacks in France and continues to threaten us."

Speaking to BFM news channel earlier Tuesday, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner linked the decision to the US withdrawal.

"The Americans are pulling out of Syria. There are currently people in prison (in a Kurdish-controlled part of Syria) and who are being held because the Americans are there and who will be freed," he said.

A French security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that 130 people could be repatriated, confirming a figure reported by the BFM news

channel which said the group included men and women.

However the French foreign ministry said in its statement that it could "in no way confirm" the figure of 130.

Five hundred suspected jihadists are currently locked up in French prisons and are either waiting to be put on trial or have already been convicted.</s>French jihadists detained in Syria by Kurdish-led forces could be returned to France and jailed, French officials said Tuesday, in a change of position brought about by the planned withdrawal of US forces.

France is worried that French prisoners held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) could be released or escape after US President Donald Trump announced plans last month to pull American forces out of Syria.

Until now, French officials had insisted the fighters and their wives must be prosecuted and jailed locally, while offering to take back the children of jihadists and place them with relatives in France.

“Given the development of the military situation in north-east Syria, the American decisions, and to ensure the security of the French, we are examining all options to avoid the escape and scattering of these potentially dangerous individuals,” the French foreign ministry said in a statement.

“If the forces who are guarding the French fighters took the decision to expel them to France they would be immediately placed in the hands of the law,” it added.

Making clear the jihadists — many of whom enlisted with Islamic State — would face the full weight of the law, the ministry added: “These people voluntarily joined a terrorist organisation which is fighting in the Levant, carried out attacks in France and continues to threaten us.”

Speaking to BFM news channel earlier Tuesday, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner linked the decision to the US withdrawal.

“The Americans are pulling out of Syria. There are currently people in prison (in a Kurdish-controlled part of Syria) and who are being held because the Americans are there and who will be freed,” he said.

A French security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that 130 people could be repatriated, confirming a figure reported by the BFM news channel which said the group included men and women.

But a second French official, also speaking on condition of anonymity to AFP, said the group included some 70-80 children being held with their mothers.

The French foreign ministry said in its statement that it could “in no way confirm” the figure of 130.

The French government has for years been grappling with what to do with French nationals who are thought to have fought alongside IS or other extremist groups in Syria or Iraq.

Up to 1,700 French nationals are thought to have travelled to Iraq and Syria to fight alongside Islamic State between 2014-2018, according to government figures.

Castaner denied that the government was softening its position.

“It’s not a question of being taken back. If they come to France they will be incarcerated,” he said.

Trump shocked America’s allies in December by announcing that the US, which heads up a coalition that has been carrying out airstrikes against IS since 2014, would withdraw its 2,000 remaining troops from Syria on the grounds that the jihadists had been “largely defeated”.

The announcement came as a blow particularly to the Kurdish-led SDF forces which have spearheaded the fight against IS on the ground.

The SDF is dominated by the Kurdish YPG militia, which is considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey, which is threatening to attack the group.

France fears that if the Kurdish forces are drawn into battle with Turkey in northeast Syria the foreign jihadists being held there could escape or be freed.

That would pose a significant threat for France, where jihadists have been involved in a number of deadly attacks since 2015, including the Paris attacks of November 2015 in which 130 people were killed.

If Turkey holds off on its threat to attack Kurdish forces, Paris fears that the Kurds could seek protection from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who could then use French prisoners as bargaining chips with Paris, French diplomats have said.</s>PARIS — France's interior minister says the planned departure of American soldiers from Syria means that French jihadis imprisoned there will return to France, where he says they will be arrested.

In an interview Tuesday with BFM television, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said that some French jihadis had already returned and more would be following soon. BFM said a total of 130 would be coming back within weeks.

"There are a certain number who are imprisoned because the Americans are there and they will be freed. They will want to return to France."

He refused to elaborate, but said all would be jailed immediately in France and face trial.

French jihadis made up the largest contingent of Europeans who joined the Islamic State group.</s>The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.

PARIS (AP) — France’s government is preparing for an influx of homegrown jihadis with the departure of U.S. troops from Syria, saying Tuesday that anyone who left to fight for Islamic extremists will go straight to jail.

In an interview with BFM television, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said that a handful of French jihadis had already returned and more would follow soon. Neither he nor France’s foreign ministry confirmed BFM’s report that as many as 130 could come back within weeks.

“The Americans are leaving Syria. It’s important to keep that in mind,” Castaner said. “There are a certain number who are imprisoned because the Americans are there, and they will be freed. They will want to return to France.”

The question of what to do with foreigners who joined the Islamic State group has grown increasingly thorny as the U.S. departure looms.

French jihadis made up the largest contingent of European recruits, and in 2015 and 2016 an Islamic State cell of French and Belgian fighters who sneaked in from Turkey attacked Paris and Brussels.

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Britain refuses to take back citizens who joined the group and has stripped their citizenship. Other European countries have remained largely silent about the fate of men and women whom many see as a security threat.

“These are people who have voluntarily joined a terrorist organization … that has committed attacks in France and continues to threaten us,” France’s foreign ministry said.

Castaner said all would be jailed immediately in France and face trial, but declined to provide details.

Kurdish authorities in Syria have detained 900 foreign members of the group, and 4,000 family of IS members, according to Ilham Ahmed, a senior Syrian Kurdish official. Russia has taken some of the recruits back and jailed them.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there are at least 78 French women and children who had recently come out of the last stronghold of IS in eastern Syria. This is in addition to another 65 previously evacuated from other IS held areas and in Kurdish custody. It was not clear if Castaner was also speaking of civilians and families of IS members.

Castaner said a small number had already returned to France, although it’s not clear whether they had voluntarily surrendered or were repatriated, or whether he meant fighters or their families.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 78 French women and children recently left the last stronghold of IS in eastern Syria. This is in addition to another 65 previously evacuated from other IS held areas and in Kurdish custody.

In April, then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said French special forces had joined American troops in Syria.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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About 130 French citizens who joined the Islamic State are expected to be returned to France by their Kurdish captors to face trial.