Iraqi IS fighters to be held in Iraqi camps

Baghdad: Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi said on Wednesday the country is preparing for the return of Iraqi Islamic State fighters who are set to be handed back from Syria.

Abdul-Mahdi spoke at his weekly news conference the day after meeting with acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan.

The Iraqi PM said camps were being prepared for the families of the "prisoners of war" ahead of their return.

Abdul-Mahdi also said that the area controlled by IS has been reduced to just over 32 square kilometres from "thousands" previously.