February 3, 2020

The Washington Post: U.S. Targets Leader Of Al-Qaeda In Yemen <[link removed]>

“The United States conducted an airstrike against the leader of al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen, which is likely to have resulted in his death, according to people familiar with the matter. The leader, Qassim al-Rimi, has been described as a possible heir to al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, according to terrorism experts. His death would deal a significant blow to the terrorist organization, eliminating one of its most prominent members. Over the years, U.S. officials have said the Yemen branch was especially dangerous because of its ability to produce sophisticated bombs and its ambition to launch attacks against targets in the United States and Europe. In the past, U.S. officials have announced successful strikes on top al-Qaeda members only to learn later that they survived. While officials expressed confidence privately that Rimi was dead, they were reluctant to say so publicly. But President Trump on Saturday appeared to confirm the United States had killed Rimi, retweeting an intelligence expert and a reporter who pointed to a targeted U.S. strike. Officials familiar with the strike indicated it was carried out by the CIA and not the military. A spokesperson for the CIA declined to comment. The White House declined to confirm the operation or comment further.”

Deutsche Welle: France To Boost Military Troops In Africa's Sahel To Counter Terrorism <[link removed]>

“France announced Sunday it was bolstering its military presence in Africa's Sahel region to counter jihadi violence. French Defense Minister Florence Parly said in a statement that the majority of the reinforcements would be sent by the end of February to the border zone connecting Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The French government is planning to deploy a further 600 troops in addition to its already 4,500-strong operation in five countries across the Sahel region. The Defense Ministry said that boosting its military presence showed France's commitment to the anti-terrorist mission. The ministry also emphasized that Paris' allies were mobilizing their own troops. France said the move to bolster its military was in response to an upsurge in violence in the Sahel region that has led locals to feel increasingly insecure. Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron announced 220 new troops for the region at a G5 Sahel summit, where he met up with leaders from Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. France lost 13 of its own soldiers in a fatal air collision last November. The incident was the country's biggest military loss in decades and motivated Macron to announce that France would commence an in-depth review of its Operation Barkhane, with “all options on the table.”

The New York Times: Egyptian Officials Say Militants Blow Up Sinai Gas Pipeline <[link removed]>

“Security officials in Egypt said suspected Islamic militants on Sunday blew up a natural gas pipeline in the restive norther part of Sinai Peninsula. At least six masked militants planted explosives under the pipeline in the town of Bir al-Abd. It transfers gas to el-Arish, the provincial capital of North Sinai, and a cement factory in central Sinai, the officials said. The explosion sent thick flames of fire shooting into the sky, and authorities stopped the flow of gas to extinguish the fire, officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak to journalists. No group immediately claimed the attack. Egypt is battling an Islamic State-led insurgency in the Sinai that intensified after the military overthrew an elected but divisive Islamist president in 2013. The militants have carried out scores of attacks, mainly targeting security forces and Christians. They also have targeted gas pipelines between Egypt and both Jordan and Israel regularly since the 2011 uprising that toppled then president Hosni Mubarak. Israel and Jordan relied on the pipeline to meet its energy needs. The attacks led to the collapse of a 2005 deal to export Egypt’s natural gas to Israel in 2012.”

United States

The Washington Post: Al-Qaida In Yemen Claims Deadly Florida Naval Base Shooting <[link removed]>

“Al-Qaida’s branch in Yemen claimed responsibility Sunday for last year’s deadly shooting at the Naval Air Station Pensacola by an aviation student from Saudi Arabia. The shooter, 2nd Lt. Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, was a member of the Saudi Air Force in training at the base. He opened fire inside a classroom at the base on Dec. 6, killing three people and wounding two sheriff’s deputies before one of the deputies killed him. Eight others were also hurt. Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, released a video claiming the attack. SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks messaging by militant groups, reported the claim. AQAP has long been considered the global network’s most dangerous branch and has attempted to carry out attacks on the U.S. mainland. The 18-minute video did not provide evidence of training the shooter, but did indicate that Alshamrani and AQAP were in communication, said Rita Katz, director of SITE. It was not clear when the video was recorded. The video claimed that Alshamrani had been planning for years to attack a U.S. base, and had been training and “selecting” targets. The video, which was viewed by The Associated Press, provided a will written by Alshamrani to his family in September 2019, three months prior to attack.”

Lansing State Journal: Two Lansing Men Have Now Pleaded Guilty To Conspiring To Supporting Islamic State <[link removed]>

“A second Lansing man accused of planning to join the Islamic State group has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge. Mohamud Abdikadir Muse pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiring to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization, specifically to the Islamic State. He originally pleaded not guilty last year. As part of a plea agreement, Muse acknowledged he had recorded a video pledging loyalty to the Islamic State and that he had planned to travel to Somalia at some point last year to join the terrorist organization. Muse, 25, faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a lifetime of supervision once released. He also may lose his citizenship. As part of the plea agreement, the government will dismiss one charge of attempting to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization. Prosecutors also have agreed not to charge Muse's wife. Muse's younger brother, Muse Abdikadir Muse, also has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge and faces the same potential sentence and fine. The two men have agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and other investigators as they continue to proceed with charges against a third Lansing man.”

New York Post: Alleged Leader Of Iraqi Al Qaeda Group Arrested In Arizona <[link removed]>

“They’re heeeeere. An alleged al Qaeda leader somehow slipped through immigration and was arrested in Phoenix Friday evening. According to a statement by the Justice Department obtained by the Arizona Republic, Ali Yousif Ahmed Al-Nouri, 42, is “wanted to stand trial in Iraq on charges of the premeditated murder of two Iraqi police officers.” The Iraqi government believes Al-Nouri, a Phoenix resident, served as the leader of the terrorist group in Fallujah in 2006 — specifically targeting Iraqi police officers. Al-Nouri and other members of the al Qaida group are accused of shooting and killing two members of the Fallujah Police Directorate. Al-Nouri’s arrest comes as a result of an extradition request from the Iraqi government. The Justice department’s statement “did not provide information on when or how Ahmed entered the US,” according to the Arizona Republic.”

Syria

Reuters: Jihadist Car Bomb Attacks Target Syrian Pro-Government Forces In Aleppo <[link removed]>

“Syrian insurgents carried out two suicide car bomb attacks in an assault on pro-government forces in Aleppo on Saturday and opened a new front northeast of the city, an attempted fightback after territorial gains for President Bashar al-Assad. Backed by Russian air power, Syrian government forces had made a significant advance into the rebel-held northwest this week, seizing the town of Maarat al-Numan, part of an offensive to secure the main highway between Damascus and Aleppo. The suicide attacks were carried out by jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and targeted the Jamiyat al Zahraa area on the western edge of Aleppo. A third car bomb was set off by remote control, a source with the group said. A news outlet linked to the group, Ebaa, published a video which it said showed elite Tahrir al-Sham fighters pledging “allegiance to death and jihad” before the attack on Jamiyat al-Zahraa, watched by the group’s leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. The northwestern corner of Syria including Idlib province and adjoining areas of Aleppo is the last major rebel foothold in Syria, where Assad has taken back most of the ground once held by his enemies with Russian and Iranian support.”

Turkey

Al Jazeera: Turkey Deploys Tanks To Syrian Border Amid Fresh Idlib Violence <[link removed]>

“Turkey has deployed additional armed vehicles and soldiers to its border with Syria as an intensifying military push by Syrian government forces in the country's last major rebel-held stronghold has prompted fears of a new refugee crisis. Backed by Russian jets, the Syrian troops have recently made large advances in Idlib province during the deadly offensive that has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee towards safer areas near the Turkish border, according to the United Nations. The Syrian government's campaign has shattered a fragile ceasefire that was brokered last month by Turkey and Russia, raising tensions between the two countries which back opposing sides in the conflict but have also coopoerated in attempts to find a solution to the almost nine-year-old war. Turkish state media reported on Sunday that the deployment of tanks and other armoured vehicles to Reyhanli district of Hatay province was completed earlier in the day. “Turkey would do what is necessary diplomatically or militarily in order to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Idlib and keep the region stable,” Ahmet Berat Conkar, a member of the Turkish parliament's foreign affairs committee, told Al Jazeera. “Ankara would not hesitate to intervene if the Syrian government offensive turns into a catastrophe,” Conkar said.”

Afghanistan

Al Jazeera: US Envoy Briefs Afghan President On Peace Talks With Taliban <[link removed]>

“The United States' special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has told Afghan President Ashraf Ghani that there has not been any significant progress in his peace talks with the Taliban. However, Khalilzad said he was hopeful of reaching an understanding with the group on reduction of hostilities, but did not offer any timeframe, according to a statement issued by the presidential palace on Saturday. According to Ghani's office, Khalilzad hoped the peace talks to end the 18-year war will reach a conclusion. “We are waiting for a clear response from the Taliban about a ceasefire or a significant and lasting reduction in violence based on a practical mechanism which is acceptable to the people of Afghanistan and the US government,” the palace quoted Khalilzad as saying. Afghan government leaders remain split on the issue of a brief “reduction in violence” or a comprehensive ceasefire before a final agreement is reached between the US and Taliban. Last week, Abdullah said no preconditions should be set for peace talks, while Ghani continued calling for a ceasefire.”

Pakistan

The Washington Post: Afghan Militant Shell Kills 7 From Same Family In Pakistan <[link removed]>

“At least seven members of the same Pakistani family were killed Sunday when their home was hit by a mortar round fired from across the border in Afghanistan by suspected militants, Pakistani police said. Four children, two women and a man were killed in Bajur district, once a Taliban stronghold inside Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to local police official, Shahab-ud- Din. He said other civilians were also wounded. Police and local officials provided no further details on the shelling. Police gave the name of the owner of the home that was struck, but did not say if he was among the casualties or if he was present at the time of the attack. Authorities said an investigation was underway. Pakistan’s militant groups are often interlinked with those across the border in Afghanistan, and Bajur district was once a haven for Taliban insurgents. Pakistan says the army has cleared the area in recent years, although violence persists. Militants who were not killed have mostly fled across the rugged mountains into neighboring Afghanistan. Terror attacks in Pakistan plummeted by more than 85% over the last decade, from nearly 2,000 in 2009 to fewer than 250 in 2019, according to a tally put together by Pakistani think tanks.”

Middle East

The Jerusalem Post: Terrorist Groups In Gaza On High Alert, Fear Assassinations <[link removed]>

“Terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip have raised their alert level as they believe there is a high chance a round of fighting will break out with Israel in the coming days, according to Ynet. The head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group's military wing has decided to increase security measures in fear of possible assassination attempts by Israel. Officials in the terrorist group are changing their routine and staying mobile against the possibility that Israel could carry out a similar assassination to that of PIJ official Baha Abu al-Ata in November, which sparked a week-long escalation between Israel and PIJ. Most of the rockets launched at Israel in the past two weeks were fired by PIJ. Khalil Bathani, a leader in PIJ, is considered the main possible target for assassination, according to Ynet. He has been targeted in the past. Hamas has been promoting and possibly supporting the recent escalation in explosive balloon launches towards Israel, even though they have stopped them in the past. In recent strikes by the IDF in Gaza, only targets belonging to Hamas have been struck. Palestinian sources told Ynet that the strikes were very severe and affected “strategic” underground complexes used for rocket storage.”

Egypt

The Times Of Israel: Egypt Weighs Death Sentences For 37 Islamic State Jihadists <[link removed]>

“An Egyptian court on Saturday referred the death sentences of 37 defendants, including one of the country’s most high-profile militants, to Egypt’s top religious authority for a non-binding opinion on whether they can be executed on terrorism-related charges. Customarily all death sentences in Egypt are sent to the Grand Mufti for his office’s advice on whether the ruling is consistent with religious law. The Cairo Criminal Court said the defendants were charged with belonging to a local affiliate of the Islamic State jihadist group spearheading an insurgency in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. Egypt has been fighting militants in the restive north Sinai Peninsula and the vast Western Desert for years. The men are among more than 200 defendants accused of carrying out more than 50 militant attacks that included killing high-ranking police officers and bombings that targeted the Egyptian capital’s police headquarters. The charges also include a 2013 assassination attempt on the Egyptian interior minister. The ruling on the sentencing is set for March 2. The presiding judge may decide independently of the Mufti.”

The Arab Weekly: The Fight Of Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta Against Extremism, Islamophobia <[link removed]>

“To make it difficult for religious extremists to attract young people, Dar al-Ifta, Egypt’s institution for religious edicts — fatwas — established two observatories to combat “takfiri” fatwas and extremist opinions and to monitor Islamophobia, which can adversely affect communities abroad. In an interview with The Arab Weekly, Egyptian Grand Mufti Shawky Allam, head of the General Secretariat of Fatwa Authorities Worldwide, said the challenge of confronting extremism must consider the diversity of extremist forms of exploitation of Islam and politics. Allam said the Dar al-Ifta seeks to have better control over and correct terminology used in the media by extremist groups. It has asked the term “political Islam” be replaced with “political Islamist groups” following the transformation of Islam by those groups into a political tool based on extremist perceptions aimed at destroying the foundations of the state. He said Dar al-Ifta’s observatory of takfiri fatwas continually monitors and following up on takfiri discourse in print, audio-visual and digital media. The observatory quickly responds to inaccuracies and misleading claims. It publishes correct content and interpretations of the faith by communicating in 18 foreign languages.”

Somalia

All Africa:Somalia: Soldiers Killed In Al-Shabaab Attack In Somalia <[link removed]>

“At least 18 people including eight Somali government soldiers and 10 al-Shabaab militants were killed, and more than 13 others wounded when fighters from al-Shabaab attacked Somali National Army and African Union peacekeeping mission troops bases in the Middle Shabelle region on Sunday. Hassan Ibrahim, a military official in the region, said that the main attack took place at AMISOM and SNA base in the vicinity of Qalimow in the region. “The terrorist group al-Shabaab attacked our base in Qalimow on Sunday morning. Eight soldiers were killed, more than 13 others wounded but we have killed more than 10 al-Shabaab militants,” Ibrahim said. The group also attacked several other observation points with mortar shells, he said, adding that they did not know how many people were killed or wounded. Somali-based al-Qaeda affiliated group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the Qalimow attack that it has killed over 13 soldiers. The attacks came a day after double blasts in Somali capital Mogadishu, killing over 4 soldiers and wounding Kahda district deputy commissioner, claimed by al-Shabaab.”

Africa

The New York Times: Oil Majors Request More Mozambique Troops After Islamist Attacks: Sources <[link removed]>

“Exxon Mobil Corp and Total have asked Mozambique to send more troops to guard their operations in the far north after a surge of attacks by Islamist militants, an industry source and two security consultants said. Mozambique's northern province of Cabo Delgado is home to one of the world's biggest gas finds in the past decade, and both oil majors are working on massive LNG projects that could transform the economy. The area is also the center of an Islamist insurgency that has killed hundreds since 2017. Fighters have destroyed villages, clashed with soldiers and often beheaded captives. The three sources said that the companies were negotiating with the government to try to increase the number of soldiers protecting their operations One of the security consultants said there were around 500 troops in the region and the companies wanted another 300. An industry source with knowledge of the situation and another security consultant said more security had been requested, but did not provide numbers. Exxon said it did not comment on discussions with the government, and referred Reuters to Mozambique's Ministry of National Defence.”

Reuters: Militants Kill Dozens In East Congo As Attacks On Civilians Intensify <[link removed]>

“Suspected Islamist militants killed at least 62 civilians in a series of attacks this week in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where the army is waging a counter-insurgency campaign against the rebels, the government said on Saturday. The upsurge in violence after a period of relative calm in early January undercuts government claims of security progress against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan Islamist group active in Beni territory. Rights group CEPADHO said ADF fighters had killed at least 74 civilians, many of them women and children, with knives and guns. It said the attacks spanned about 10 villages over the course of less than 48 hours. The army has repeatedly claimed to have made sweeping progress against the group by killing several top commanders and capturing many of the its camps in the dense forests near the Ugandan border. But the ADF, which arrived in Congo from Uganda in the 1990s, has survived frequent onslaughts from Congolese force and U.N. peacekeepers, and taken revenge on civilian populations.”

BBC News: Burkina Faso: Gunmen Kill 20 Civilians In Attack <[link removed]>

“As many as 20 civilians have been killed in an overnight attack in north-western Burkina Faso. Unidentified heavily armed men on motorbikes carried out the attack on a village in Bani municipality, north of the capital Ouagadougou, on Saturday night, AFP news agency says. The attack comes a week after 39 people were killed when militants attacked a market in Silgadji town. The Sahel region has seen an increase in jihadist violence in recent months. News of Saturday's attack came as France announced it would send a further 600 soldiers to the Sahel region, bringing the total number of French troops to more than 5,000.  Last year saw the highest death toll due to armed conflict in the region since 2012, with more than 4,000 people killed. The security crisis in the Sahel began when an alliance of separatist and Islamist militants took over northern Mali in 2012. France then launched a military intervention against them. Although a peace deal was signed in 2015, it was never fully implemented. New armed groups have since emerged and expanded to central Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, including groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group (IS).”

BBC News: Sahel Crisis: Burkina Faso To Arm Civilians Against Militants <[link removed]>

“The authorities in Burkina Faso, struggling to grapple with a growing wave of Islamist militant attacks that is affecting the region, are planning to give weapons to civilians, as Louise Dewast reports. The Burkinabe government is under pressure to take new measures to try and curtail the militants. In January alone, at least 60 people were killed in four separate attacks in the north of the country. Members of parliament recently unanimously voted in favour of arming civilians in a move they said would help combat the armed groups. It is due to be signed into law. The attacks by militants linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group have significantly increased in the past year, causing more than half a million people to flee their homes. Critics have questioned whether the new measure will make people safer, but the government insists that armed volunteers are necessary to stem the spread of violence. The law says that the army's capacity to fight the militants is limited in terms of numbers of soldiers and lack of appropriate training. “In light of the persistent threat, populations have... expressed their desire to actively engage in the defence of the homeland,” it states.”

The Arab Weekly: ‘Children Of ISIS’ Head Back To Tunisia, Reviving Controversy <[link removed]>

“Six children fathered by Tunisian Islamic State fighters killed in 2016 in the Libyan city of Sirte recently arrived in Tunisia. Dozens more fatherless Tunisian children and their mothers were expected to arrive soon in their deceased parent’s home country. The complicated repatriation requires that Tunisia provide an appropriate system for the care and rehabilitation of children of killed Tunisian Islamic State (ISIS) fighters, as well as establish close coordination between the judicial, security and intelligence agencies involved. Tunisian authorities also need to collaborate closely with Libyan officials and other concerned countries. There are more than 50 children of Tunisian ISIS fighters who died in campaigns against the extremist organisation in Libya; 36 of those children are accompanied by their mothers. The children are 3-12 years of age. “Fifty-four children with their mothers are still stranded in Libya and arrangements are being made for their deportation soon,” said Taoufik Kacem, the Tunisian consul in the Libyan city of Misrata. The other Tunisian children and their mothers are expected to be extradited soon after Tunisian forensic and legal specialists submit reports.”

Long War Journal: Jihadists In Central Mali Pledge Allegiance To New Islamic State Leader <[link removed]>

“A short video uploaded online appears to show a cadre of jihadists in Mali’s central Segou Region pledging allegiance to Abu Ibrahim al Hashimi al Qurayshi, the newly appointed leader of the Islamic State. The video features dozens of jihadists in the area of Nampala close to Mali’s borders with Mauritania. It is important to note that the video was not released through official Islamic State channels. Though this is not unusual for Islamic State-loyal jihadists in the Sahel. Prior to and even after being officially recognized by the Islamic State’s leadership in Iraq and Syria, the so-called “Islamic State in the Greater Sahara” released most of its propaganda and attack claims unofficially. In today’s short clip, an Arabic-speaking figure introduces the group as “Soldiers of the Caliphate in Mali,” before leading his men in the pledge of bayah [allegiance] to Qurayshi. It is unknown if the unit previously existed in the area and is reaffirming its loyalty or if this faction represents a splinter within the ranks of al Qaeda’s Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM). Given the lack of Islamic State activity in that area, it is possible that these men were once part of JNIM until recently. JNIM and its constituent units have long operated near Nampala and the wider Segou Region of Mali.”

United Kingdom

The New York Times: U.K. Police Kill Man In A ‘Terrorist Related’ Incident <[link removed]>

“A man armed with a knife and wearing a fake explosive device strapped to his body was shot and killed by the police in South London on Sunday after he was suspected of stabbing people on Sunday. The authorities described the attack as “terrorist related.” The assault in London came more than three months after another terrorism spree left two people dead near the London Bridge, and added to the litany of attacks Britain has endured in recent years, testing the nerves and fortitude of its residents. According to Lucy D’Orsi, the deputy assistant commissioner in specialist operations, the suspect was Sudesh Mamoor Faraz Amman, 20. Local news reports said Mr. Amman had been under surveillance by the police when two pedestrians were stabbed on Sunday in Streatham, about five miles south of Central London. One of them, a man, was hospitalized with “life-threatening” injuries, according to the police. A third pedestrian, a woman, was believed to have been injured by glass after officers discharged their weapons, the police said. The Metropolitan Police said that officers from “a proactive counterterrorism operation” quickly responded to the “Islamist related” attack and killed Mr. Amman around 2 p.m. local time.”

The Independent: British Isis Prisoners May End Up In Iraq, Where Death Sentences Are Handed Down Without Due Process <[link removed]>

“In a busy day, Judge Ahmed might send several men to their deaths before lunchtime. At the Baghdad court where he works, he has presided over more than a thousand trials of suspected Isis members. Prisoners accused of belonging to one of the world’s most brutal terror organisations shuffle through the hallways wearing bright orange jumpsuits. They wait silently outside his courtroom and listen to those who go before them. The judge, who declined to give his name for security reasons, has seen before him unrepentant radicals and hardened killers, liars and psychopaths. He has also heard from defendants who say they joined the group just to survive.  He has seen young men from Europe, who travelled thousands of miles to join the jihadi group at the height of its power and survived long enough to see its fall. And for some time now, he has been readying himself to deal with the small number of British prisoners currently held in Syria, whose fate has been the subject of controversy. There have been talks, he said, between Iraq and the UK government, about what to do with them. “I am following their cases in the media, in case they are sent here. That way I know who they are,” he added during an interview with The Independent in June.”

France

Asharq Al-Awsat: France Arrests Syrian Extremist On War Crime Charges <[link removed]>

“A senior member of Syrian armed group Jaysh al-Islam implicated in the disappearance of a prominent activist in 2013 has been arrested in France and charged with war crimes and torture, a judicial source told AFP. The suspect, a former spokesman of the group who is in his early thirties, was in France on an Erasmus student visa and detained in the southern city of Marseille. He appeared before an investigating magistrate in Paris who charged him with torture, war crimes and complicity in forced disappearances, the source said on Friday. Jaysh al-Islam is notably suspected of involvement in the December 2013 kidnapping of Syrian activist Razan Zaitouneh, her husband Wael Hamada and two colleagues, Samira Khalil and Nazem Hammadi. They have never been found. Zaitouneh was one of the most prominent civil society figures in the uprising against Bashar al-Assad's regime that erupted in March 2011 and then descended into civil war. That year, she was awarded the prestigious Sakharov prize for human rights along with other activists. She was a vociferous critic of abuses by all parties in the conflict.”

Asharq Al-Awsat: France Takes Back 17 ISIS Children <[link removed]>

“The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, announced on Sunday that a total of 17 children of French militants have been repatriated to France, adding that he would continue this movement of return of “innocent” children, whose parents are members of ISIS, from Iraq or Syria. “We have repatriated 17 children”, he said, after saying that France could repatriate others if it has “the opportunity to do it”. “The will of France is to ensure that these children, who are innocent, can be repatriated, subject to the agreement of their mother”, he explained. Regarding their age, “for now, we are limited to less than 6 years”. The French government defends a logic of repatriation of children who are in prison camps in Syria or Iraq to “case by case”, in a context of hostility or fear of public opinion facing the idea of ​​a return of militants or their relatives. France also hasn't set up a clear strategy for the return of adults, faced with the difficulties raised by their management in the areas where they are detained, in Iraq or in the Syrian areas under Kurdish control.”



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