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Trump urges Europe to 'take back' captured IS fighters

Warminster: US President Donald Trump has told European allies to "step up" and take back more than 800 Islamic State group (IS) fighters captured in Syria and put them on trial.

Donald Trump

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Published : Feb 17, 2019, 5:04 PM IST

Courtesy: Metropolitan Police
Trump tweeted that with the IS group about to be defeated in their last toehold on the border between Syria and Iraq, "the alternative is not a good one in that we will be forced to release them".
Not dealing with the issue meant IS group fighters could "permeate Europe", the president warned, and he called on Britain, France and Germany to "do the job that they are so capable of doing".

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The capture of Baghouz, the last pocket still held by IS group fighters, would mark the end of a devastating four-year global campaign to end the extremist group's hold on territory in Syria and Iraq.

At the height of the group's power in 2014, their so-called "caliphate" extended to nearly a third of both Iraq and Syria.

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Trump's tweets came as debate continued in Britain about Shamima Begum, the schoolgirl who ran away from home to join the IS group.

Now 19, and pregnant, she has called on the government for help to bring her back to the UK.

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