Small Wars Journal

Nations Confront What To Do With ISIS Supporters

Tue, 03/05/2019 - 7:48am

Nations Confront What To Do With ISIS Supporters by Tara John - CNN

The final battle to end ISIS's caliphate is now underway as US-backed forces push into the group's last stronghold in Syria.

 

But the predicted victory may be short-lived for Western countries, which will be forced to confront the problem of what to do with their citizens who went to Syria or Iraq to join the militant group.

 

Hundreds of Western ISIS fighters are being held in refugee or detention camps by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria. Many others may still be ensconced in ISIS's last bastion -- which is shrinking by the hour -- in the town of Baghouz Al-Fawqani.

 

Experts say few countries have embassies or extradition treaties with Syria, let alone with the Kurdish-held areas in northern Syria. Nor have they shown any desire to go to the areas where ISIS fighters and families are being held, and put their government representatives in harm's way.

 

So what options are open to Western countries when it comes to dealing with their homegrown militants?...

Read on.