Any safe zone along Turkey's border with Syria must be under Turkish control, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday in an interview with broadcaster CNN Turk.

He was speaking after a senior US administration official said on Friday Washington would leave about 400 US troops in Syria, a reversal by President Donald Trump that could pave the way for US allies to keep troops there.

"If there is to be a safe zone along our border then it must be under our control. Because that is my border," Erdogan said.

Trump ordered the withdrawal of all 2,000 US troops from Syria in December after saying they had defeated Islamic State, a decision criticised by allies and US lawmakers.

He was persuaded on Thursday that about 200 US troops should join what is expected to be a total commitment of some 800 to 1,500 troops from European allies to set up a safe zone in northeastern Syria, a US administration official said.

Ankara regards the Kurdish YPG militia, which controls that region and has been a key US ally against Islamic State, as a terrorist group. Turkey has repeatedly threatened to intervene militarily against the YPG east of the Euphrates river where the safe zone is planned.

Any safe zone along Turkey's border with Syria must be under Turkish control, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday in an interview with broadcaster CNN Turk.

Any safe zone along Turkey's border with Syria must be under Turkish control, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday in an interview with broadcaster CNN Turk. He was speaking after a senior US administration official said on Friday Washington would leave about 400 US troops in Syria, a reversal by President Donald Trump that could pave the way for US allies to keep troops there. "If there is to be a safe zone along our border then it must be under our control. Because that is my border," Erdogan said. Trump ordered the withdrawal of all 2,000 US troops from Syria in December after saying they had defeated Islamic State, a decision criticised by allies and US lawmakers. He was persuaded on Thursday that about 200 US troops should join what is expected to be a total commitment of some 800 to 1,500 troops from European allies to set up a safe zone in northeastern Syria, a US administration official said. Ankara regards the Kurdish YPG militia, which controls that region and has been a key US ally against Islamic State, as a terrorist group. Turkey has repeatedly threatened to intervene militarily against the YPG east of the Euphrates river where the safe zone is planned.

Erdogan says safe zone on Syria border must be under Turkey's control

The father of an Alabama woman who fled to Syria to marry an Islamic State fighter filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump's administration over her right to return with her 18-month-old baby after the US president said she will not be allowed back on American soil.

Hoda Muthana, 24, joined the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, in 2014 after telling her parents she was going to Atlanta, Georgia, as part of a field trip connected with her business studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Instead, she withdrew from college and used her tuition reimbursement to purchase a plane ticket to Turkey, according to court documents.&nbsp;

From Turkey, she traveled to Syria, where she married twice, both times to ISIS fighters who later died in combat. Muthana fled to the al-Hawl refugee camp in December last year amid the collapse of the ISIS caliphate in Syria and Iraq.&nbsp;

"I have instructed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and he fully agrees, not to allow Hoda Muthana back into the Country!" Trump tweeted on Wednesday.

"She does not have any legal basis, no valid US&nbsp;Passport, no right to a passport, nor any visa to travel to the United States," Pompeo said in a statement. "We continue to strongly advise all US&nbsp;Citizens not to travel to Syria."

Ahmed Ali Muthana filed the lawsuit Thursday, accusing the Trump administration of an "unlawful attempt" to revoke Hoda Muthana's citizenship.

Muthana has said she is willing to face federal charges upon her return. 
But Trump has ordered officials to bar the former IS propagandist from entering the US.

The lawsuit emphasises that the woman's father is not arguing against any prosecution from the US government over her actions in Syria, but wants lawful recognition of her US citizenship and the citizenship of her child.

Muthana has "publicly acknowledged her actions and accepted full responsibility," a statement announcing the lawsuit said.

"In Ms Muthana's words, she recognises that she has 'ruined' her own life, but she does not want to ruin the life of her young child."

Pompeo said on Wednesday that Muthana had no "legal basis" or "right" to a passport or any US visa.

Pompeo confirmed her father's prior status as a Yemeni diplomat for the United Nations was behind the administration's decision.

Under US law, the children of diplomats are not considered US citizens.

The exact timeline of when Ahmed Ali Muthana stopped serving as a diplomat and when his daughter was born is now being contested by the Trump administration.

The family maintains Muthana was previously recognised as a citizen by the US Department of State and given a US passport in 2004.

Earlier this week, Muthana's lawyer, Hassan Shibly, shared a photo on Twitter of what he said was her US birth certificate.&nbsp;

The case has similarities to that of UK-born teenager Shamima Begum who has been stripped of her British citizenship. Begum fled London to join ISIS in 2015 but is now seeking to return to the UK.&nbsp;

The father of an Alabama woman who fled to Syria to marry an Islamic State fighter filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump's administration over her right to return with her 18-month-old baby after the US president said she will not be allowed back on American soil.

The father of an Alabama woman who fled to Syria to marry an Islamic State fighter filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump's administration over her right to return with her 18-month-old baby after the US president said she will not be allowed back on American soil. Hoda Muthana, 24, joined the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, in 2014 after telling her parents she was going to Atlanta, Georgia, as part of a field trip connected with her business studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Instead, she withdrew from college and used her tuition reimbursement to purchase a plane ticket to Turkey, according to court documents. From Turkey, she traveled to Syria, where she married twice, both times to ISIS fighters who later died in combat. Muthana fled to the al-Hawl refugee camp in December last year amid the collapse of the ISIS caliphate in Syria and Iraq. "I have instructed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and he fully agrees, not to allow Hoda Muthana back into the Country!" Trump tweeted on Wednesday. "She does not have any legal basis, no valid US Passport, no right to a passport, nor any visa to travel to the United States," Pompeo said in a statement. "We continue to strongly advise all US Citizens not to travel to Syria." Ahmed Ali Muthana filed the lawsuit Thursday, accusing the Trump administration of an "unlawful attempt" to revoke Hoda Muthana's citizenship. Muthana has said she is willing to face federal charges upon her return. But Trump has ordered officials to bar the former IS propagandist from entering the US. The lawsuit emphasises that the woman's father is not arguing against any prosecution from the US government over her actions in Syria, but wants lawful recognition of her US citizenship and the citizenship of her child. Muthana has "publicly acknowledged her actions and accepted full responsibility," a statement announcing the lawsuit said. "In Ms Muthana's words, she recognises that she has 'ruined' her own life, but she does not want to ruin the life of her young child." Pompeo said on Wednesday that Muthana had no "legal basis" or "right" to a passport or any US visa. Pompeo confirmed her father's prior status as a Yemeni diplomat for the United Nations was behind the administration's decision. Under US law, the children of diplomats are not considered US citizens. The exact timeline of when Ahmed Ali Muthana stopped serving as a diplomat and when his daughter was born is now being contested by the Trump administration. The family maintains Muthana was previously recognised as a citizen by the US Department of State and given a US passport in 2004. Earlier this week, Muthana's lawyer, Hassan Shibly, shared a photo on Twitter of what he said was her US birth certificate. The case has similarities to that of UK-born teenager Shamima Begum who has been stripped of her British citizenship. Begum fled London to join ISIS in 2015 but is now seeking to return to the UK.

ISIS bride's family files lawsuit against Trump over her right to return to America

"My son will grow up to become a jihadist," a woman cried proudly as she stepped off a bus ferrying people out of the Islamic State group's last sliver of territory in eastern Syria.&nbsp;

Defiant and angry, she is one of 2,000 people evacuated Friday from the jihadists' final scrap of territory in the village of Baghouz near the Iraqi border.

At a screening point run by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces close to the village, women clad in black sat on the barren desert floor waiting to be searched by the Kurdish-led fighters.&nbsp;

When asked where they came from, a group of three veiled women sitting on the rocky terrain said they were "followers" of IS's so-called "caliphate".&nbsp;

One of them, who refused to give her name but said she was Syrian and originally from the area, burst with anger when asked about the desperate conditions among the holdout jihadists.

"Who says we were hungry?" she asked, while gently nursing a newborn baby.

"In a house that has dates, the resident doesn't go hungry," she added.

Like many of those with her, she refused to acknowledge the steadily approaching end of IS's so-called "caliphate".&nbsp;

Declared across swathes of Syria and Iraq in 2014, the proto-state once the size of the United Kingdom has been rolled back to just a few blocks of homes in the desert hamlet.

She insisted the jihadists had only "stumbled", adding she never wanted to leave their final patch of territory.

"Had the caliph not ordered it, we would not have left," she said, referring to IS supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi who remains at large.

"I hope the Islamic caliphate will return and spread across all corners of the globe."&nbsp;

'Proud he's our caliph'

US-backed forces have evacuated nearly 5,000 men, women and children from the jihadist holdout since Wednesday, bringing the SDF closer to retaking the less than half a square kilometre still under IS control.

The SDF is trying to pull out the remaining civilians before pressing on with a final push to crush the jihadists unless they surrender first.

Amid the wails of hungry infants at the screening point, another Syrian woman was similarly bold and unapologetic.

"We were scared of air strikes and nothing else," said Umm Abdul Rahman, from the southern province of Daraa, referring to life inside IS-held Baghouz.&nbsp;

"We feel very bad right now, but the Islamic caliphate, God willing, will not be defeated," said the 25-year-old.&nbsp;

She said she quit the redoubt with her husband, a wounded jihadist who she claimed has not fought in the battle for years.&nbsp;

"We were comfortable" in Baghouz, she said.

When asked about IS leader Baghdadi, she said she was "proud he's our caliph".

"We used to only listen to his speeches," she said, suggesting she had not seen him in person.&nbsp;

After all, "he is the caliph and of course he is being monitored by everyone", she added.&nbsp;

"Is it possible for him to just appear in person?" she asked rhetorically.&nbsp;

Pronounced dead on several occasions, Baghdadi has not been seen in public since he declared the "caliphate" in 2014.

An Iraqi intelligence official said in May that Baghdadi was still alive, and likely to be in Syrian territory along the Iraqi border.

SDF officials have said he is not believed to be among the jihadists holed up in Baghouz.

'We are weak'

At the SDF search point, the US-backed fighters separated the women from the men, who stood in a queue waiting to be searched.

Female SDF fighters nearby patted down the female evacuees, most of whom were fully veiled, as their children played on the rocky ochre terrain.

"(The SDF) wants to launch a (military) campaign and we are weak," said one woman, when asked why so many were pouring out of the village.

"We women are weak," she added.&nbsp;

Other women said the exodus was because life inside the IS redoubt was unbearable.

"You can't live inside and you can't even get out", said Sabah Mohammad Chehab, a Syrian in her twenties.

Originally from the northern city of Aleppo, she said smugglers are charging up to $2,000 (1,760 euros) to get people out shrinking patch.

"We are happy to have made it out," she said.

"My son will grow up to become a jihadist," a woman cried proudly as she stepped off a bus ferrying people out of the Islamic State group's last sliver of territory in eastern Syria.

"My son will grow up to become a jihadist," a woman cried proudly as she stepped off a bus ferrying people out of the Islamic State group's last sliver of territory in eastern Syria. Defiant and angry, she is one of 2,000 people evacuated Friday from the jihadists' final scrap of territory in the village of Baghouz near the Iraqi border. At a screening point run by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces close to the village, women clad in black sat on the barren desert floor waiting to be searched by the Kurdish-led fighters. When asked where they came from, a group of three veiled women sitting on the rocky terrain said they were "followers" of IS's so-called "caliphate". One of them, who refused to give her name but said she was Syrian and originally from the area, burst with anger when asked about the desperate conditions among the holdout jihadists. "Who says we were hungry?" she asked, while gently nursing a newborn baby. "In a house that has dates, the resident doesn't go hungry," she added. Like many of those with her, she refused to acknowledge the steadily approaching end of IS's so-called "caliphate". Declared across swathes of Syria and Iraq in 2014, the proto-state once the size of the United Kingdom has been rolled back to just a few blocks of homes in the desert hamlet. She insisted the jihadists had only "stumbled", adding she never wanted to leave their final patch of territory. "Had the caliph not ordered it, we would not have left," she said, referring to IS supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi who remains at large. "I hope the Islamic caliphate will return and spread across all corners of the globe." 'Proud he's our caliph' US-backed forces have evacuated nearly 5,000 men, women and children from the jihadist holdout since Wednesday, bringing the SDF closer to retaking the less than half a square kilometre still under IS control. The SDF is trying to pull out the remaining civilians before pressing on with a final push to crush the jihadists unless they surrender first. Amid the wails of hungry infants at the screening point, another Syrian woman was similarly bold and unapologetic. "We were scared of air strikes and nothing else," said Umm Abdul Rahman, from the southern province of Daraa, referring to life inside IS-held Baghouz. "We feel very bad right now, but the Islamic caliphate, God willing, will not be defeated," said the 25-year-old. She said she quit the redoubt with her husband, a wounded jihadist who she claimed has not fought in the battle for years. "We were comfortable" in Baghouz, she said. When asked about IS leader Baghdadi, she said she was "proud he's our caliph". "We used to only listen to his speeches," she said, suggesting she had not seen him in person. After all, "he is the caliph and of course he is being monitored by everyone", she added. "Is it possible for him to just appear in person?" she asked rhetorically. Pronounced dead on several occasions, Baghdadi has not been seen in public since he declared the "caliphate" in 2014. An Iraqi intelligence official said in May that Baghdadi was still alive, and likely to be in Syrian territory along the Iraqi border. SDF officials have said he is not believed to be among the jihadists holed up in Baghouz. 'We are weak' At the SDF search point, the US-backed fighters separated the women from the men, who stood in a queue waiting to be searched. Female SDF fighters nearby patted down the female evacuees, most of whom were fully veiled, as their children played on the rocky ochre terrain. "(The SDF) wants to launch a (military) campaign and we are weak," said one woman, when asked why so many were pouring out of the village. "We women are weak," she added. Other women said the exodus was because life inside the IS redoubt was unbearable. "You can't live inside and you can't even get out", said Sabah Mohammad Chehab, a Syrian in her twenties. Originally from the northern city of Aleppo, she said smugglers are charging up to $2,000 (1,760 euros) to get people out shrinking patch. "We are happy to have made it out," she said.

As 'caliphate' crumbles, Islamic State women remain defiant

President Donald Trump insisted Friday he was not pulling an about-face on his Syria withdrawal plans, after it was announced hundreds of US troops would remain in the war-torn country.

The White House quietly dropped the news late Thursday that around <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/around-200-us-troops-to-remain-in-syria-after-pullout-white-house-198898">200 American "peace-keeping" soldiers</a> would remain in northern Syria indefinitely, amid fierce criticism of Trump's decision to withdraw America's more than 2,000 troops there by April 30.

"I am not reversing course," Trump said at the White House, noting that 200 soldiers was only a "very small, tiny fraction" of the overall presence.

Senior Republican Senator Lindsey Graham heralded the move, claiming the residual forces would somehow catalyze a bigger presence by European allies who had balked at the idea of committing troops to Syria minus an American ground presence.

"This 200 will attract probably 1,000 Europeans," Graham said in an interview with Fox News.

Trump, an avid Fox viewer, said he watched Graham and supported leaving "a small force with others. Whether it's NATO troops or whoever it might be, so that (IS) doesn't start up again."

Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Sean Robertson said the US troops would be part of a "multinational observing and monitoring force" that would be made up "primarily" of NATO allies in a northeast Syria "safe zone."

Robertson added the US would also maintain its presence at Al-Tanaf, a desert garrison in southern Syria where some 200 US soldiers are presently based.

Trump declared victory over IS in December despite thousands of fighters remaining and a continued effort to clear jihadists from a final scrap of territory. The decision prompted his defense secretary Jim Mattis to quit.

Critics have decried a number of possible outcomes from a US precipitous withdrawal, including a Turkish attack on US-backed Kurdish forces and a resurgence of IS.

Apart from the US, currently only France and Britain have a handful troops on the ground in Syria helping train local forces in the US-led effort against IS.

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan visited Europe last week and attempted to convince allies to furnish a troop presence in Syria after the US pulls out.&nbsp;

But he struggled to persuade other countries why they should risk their forces with America gone.

Graham claimed "thousands of Europeans" had been killed by IS fighters coming from Syria into Europe.&nbsp;

"Now, the burden falls on Europe. Eighty percent of the operation should be European, maybe 20 percent us," he said.

According to various tracking groups, far fewer than 1,000 people have been killed in attacks by Islamists of all origins in Europe since 2014.

But Graham's rhetoric feeds into one of Trump's favorite topics -- the notion that European and NATO allies aren't contributing enough to global security.

- Anti-IS campaign 'unchanged' - 
Shanahan, who spoke briefly to Pentagon reporters as he met with Turkey's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, insisted the mission to defeat IS remained unchanged.

"The transition that we are working towards is stabilization, and to enhance the security capability of local security forces," Shanahan said.&nbsp;

General Joe Dunford, who is Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, added he was confident allies would step into the fray.

"There is no change in the basic campaign. The resourcing is being adjusted because the threat has been changed," Dunford said.

Graham meanwhile said he had been speaking to Trump "continuously" about the withdrawal and persuaded him that a buffer zone needs to be created to protect US-backed Kurdish fighters from a possible attack by Turkey.&nbsp;

"You don't want to end one war and start another," Graham said he told Trump.&nbsp;

Akar, the Turkish minister, said Ankara did not have a problem with the Kurds in Syria, only with the armed US-backed Kurdish fighters there.

"We are fighting against terrorist organizations," Akar said.

President Donald Trump insisted Friday he was not pulling an about-face on his Syria withdrawal plans, after it was announced hundreds of US troops would remain in the war-torn country.

President Donald Trump insisted Friday he was not pulling an about-face on his Syria withdrawal plans, after it was announced hundreds of US troops would remain in the war-torn country. The White House quietly dropped the news late Thursday that around 200 American "peace-keeping" soldiers would remain in northern Syria indefinitely, amid fierce criticism of Trump's decision to withdraw America's more than 2,000 troops there by April 30. "I am not reversing course," Trump said at the White House, noting that 200 soldiers was only a "very small, tiny fraction" of the overall presence. Senior Republican Senator Lindsey Graham heralded the move, claiming the residual forces would somehow catalyze a bigger presence by European allies who had balked at the idea of committing troops to Syria minus an American ground presence. "This 200 will attract probably 1,000 Europeans," Graham said in an interview with Fox News. Trump, an avid Fox viewer, said he watched Graham and supported leaving "a small force with others. Whether it's NATO troops or whoever it might be, so that (IS) doesn't start up again." Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Sean Robertson said the US troops would be part of a "multinational observing and monitoring force" that would be made up "primarily" of NATO allies in a northeast Syria "safe zone." Robertson added the US would also maintain its presence at Al-Tanaf, a desert garrison in southern Syria where some 200 US soldiers are presently based. Trump declared victory over IS in December despite thousands of fighters remaining and a continued effort to clear jihadists from a final scrap of territory. The decision prompted his defense secretary Jim Mattis to quit. Critics have decried a number of possible outcomes from a US precipitous withdrawal, including a Turkish attack on US-backed Kurdish forces and a resurgence of IS. Apart from the US, currently only France and Britain have a handful troops on the ground in Syria helping train local forces in the US-led effort against IS. Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan visited Europe last week and attempted to convince allies to furnish a troop presence in Syria after the US pulls out. But he struggled to persuade other countries why they should risk their forces with America gone. Graham claimed "thousands of Europeans" had been killed by IS fighters coming from Syria into Europe. "Now, the burden falls on Europe. Eighty percent of the operation should be European, maybe 20 percent us," he said. According to various tracking groups, far fewer than 1,000 people have been killed in attacks by Islamists of all origins in Europe since 2014. But Graham's rhetoric feeds into one of Trump's favorite topics -- the notion that European and NATO allies aren't contributing enough to global security. - Anti-IS campaign 'unchanged' - Shanahan, who spoke briefly to Pentagon reporters as he met with Turkey's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, insisted the mission to defeat IS remained unchanged. "The transition that we are working towards is stabilization, and to enhance the security capability of local security forces," Shanahan said. General Joe Dunford, who is Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, added he was confident allies would step into the fray. "There is no change in the basic campaign. The resourcing is being adjusted because the threat has been changed," Dunford said. Graham meanwhile said he had been speaking to Trump "continuously" about the withdrawal and persuaded him that a buffer zone needs to be created to protect US-backed Kurdish fighters from a possible attack by Turkey. "You don't want to end one war and start another," Graham said he told Trump. Akar, the Turkish minister, said Ankara did not have a problem with the Kurds in Syria, only with the armed US-backed Kurdish fighters there. "We are fighting against terrorist organizations," Akar said.

As hundreds of US troops stay in Syria, Trump insists no U-turn

The operation to destroy Islamic State's final vestige of rule in Iraq and Syria hit a temporary snag on Thursday, as an expected evacuation of the remaining civilians from its last enclave in eastern Syria did not go ahead.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which has steadily driven the jihadists down the Euphrates, has surrounded them at Baghouz near the Iraqi border, but does not want to mount a final attack until all civilians are out.

Iraqi sources said the SDF handed over more then 150 Iraqi and other foreign jihadists to Iraq on Thursday, under a deal involving a total of 502.

The SDF had expected to pull the last civilians from Baghouz on Thursday, but trucks it sent in left empty. "We can't get into details, but today no civilians came out," SDF official Mustafa Bali told Reuters.

Baghouz is all that remains for Islamic State in the Euphrates valley region that became its final populated stronghold in Iraq and Syria after it lost its major cities of Mosul and Raqqa in 2017.

The US-led coalition fighting Islamic State was verifying whether an air strike in Baghouz on Wednesday killed French jihadist Fabien Clain, who voiced the recording claiming the November 2015 attacks on Paris, U.S. and French sources said.

In the 2015 attacks, gunmen and suicide bombers killed 129 people in the French capital. "During coalition operations to regain the Islamic State's last bastion, it is possible indeed that Fabien Clain was killed," French Defence Minister Florence Parly said on her Twitter account.

France's military and foreign ministry declined comment.

The capture of Baghouz will nudge the eight-year-old Syrian war towards a new phase, with US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's pledge to withdraw troops leaving a security vacuum that other powers are seeking to fill.

Though the fall of Baghouz marks a milestone in the campaign against IS and the wider conflict in Syria, Islamic State is still seen as a major security threat.

The group has steadily turned to guerrilla warfare and still holds territory in a remote, sparsely populated area west of the Euphrates River - a part of Syria otherwise controlled by the Syrian government and its Russian and Iranian allies.

Bali told Reuters the SDF would attack Baghouz once the civilian evacuation was complete. He did not say how much more time was needed to finish off the remaining Islamic State militants, or give a new estimate of how many fighters remained.

The SDF has previously estimated several hundred fighters - believed mostly to be foreign jihadists - are still inside.

A Reuters witness saw warplanes in the sky over Baghouz on Thursday though there was no sound of fighting or shelling.

The US-led coalition said on Wednesday "the most hardened" jihadists remain in Baghouz.

More than 2,000 civilians left the enclave on Wednesday, the SDF said. It has said more than 20,000 civilians left Baghouz in the days leading up to the start of the SDF's final push to capture the enclave this month.

The SDF has not ruled out the possibility that some Islamic State fighters had left Baghouz with the civilians.

SDF and coalition forces are recording the names and questioning everyone who has left in the civilian convoys.

Many of the people who left the enclave in civilian convoys have been Iraqis, some of whom said they had crossed from Iraq into Syria as Iraqi government forces made gains against Islamic State on the other side of the frontier.

Facing the consequences

Two Iraqi military sources told Reuters the handover of Islamic State fighters on Thursday was the first of several.

"The majority of the fighters are Iraqi," said a military colonel whose unit is stationed at the Syrian border. "But we have a few foreigners."

Islamic State, whose leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared himself "caliph", or leader of all Muslims, in 2014, attracted members from all over the world, including many Western states.

A Turkish official said Turkey was doubling down its own security measures to make it harder for foreign fighters still in Syria or Iraq to pass through Turkey, noting that the threat was much greater than the 800 that the SDF says it is holding.

Western countries refusing to repatriate jihadists were not living up to their responsibilities and leaving countries like Turkey to face the consequences, the official added.

Britain has stripped the citizenship of a teenager who went to Syria aged 15 to join Islamic State. But interior minister Sajid Javid said he would not take a decision that would leave anyone stateless, after Bangladesh said it would not accept her.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said a woman born in the United States who joined Islamic State did not qualify for US&nbsp;citizenship and had no legal basis to return to the country.

The operation to destroy Islamic State's final vestige of rule in Iraq and Syria hit a temporary snag on Thursday, as an expected evacuation of the remaining civilians from its last enclave in eastern Syria did not go ahead.

The operation to destroy Islamic State's final vestige of rule in Iraq and Syria hit a temporary snag on Thursday, as an expected evacuation of the remaining civilians from its last enclave in eastern Syria did not go ahead. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which has steadily driven the jihadists down the Euphrates, has surrounded them at Baghouz near the Iraqi border, but does not want to mount a final attack until all civilians are out. Iraqi sources said the SDF handed over more then 150 Iraqi and other foreign jihadists to Iraq on Thursday, under a deal involving a total of 502. The SDF had expected to pull the last civilians from Baghouz on Thursday, but trucks it sent in left empty. "We can't get into details, but today no civilians came out," SDF official Mustafa Bali told Reuters. Baghouz is all that remains for Islamic State in the Euphrates valley region that became its final populated stronghold in Iraq and Syria after it lost its major cities of Mosul and Raqqa in 2017. The US-led coalition fighting Islamic State was verifying whether an air strike in Baghouz on Wednesday killed French jihadist Fabien Clain, who voiced the recording claiming the November 2015 attacks on Paris, U.S. and French sources said. In the 2015 attacks, gunmen and suicide bombers killed 129 people in the French capital. "During coalition operations to regain the Islamic State's last bastion, it is possible indeed that Fabien Clain was killed," French Defence Minister Florence Parly said on her Twitter account. France's military and foreign ministry declined comment. The capture of Baghouz will nudge the eight-year-old Syrian war towards a new phase, with US President Donald Trump's pledge to withdraw troops leaving a security vacuum that other powers are seeking to fill. Though the fall of Baghouz marks a milestone in the campaign against IS and the wider conflict in Syria, Islamic State is still seen as a major security threat. The group has steadily turned to guerrilla warfare and still holds territory in a remote, sparsely populated area west of the Euphrates River - a part of Syria otherwise controlled by the Syrian government and its Russian and Iranian allies. Bali told Reuters the SDF would attack Baghouz once the civilian evacuation was complete. He did not say how much more time was needed to finish off the remaining Islamic State militants, or give a new estimate of how many fighters remained. The SDF has previously estimated several hundred fighters - believed mostly to be foreign jihadists - are still inside. A Reuters witness saw warplanes in the sky over Baghouz on Thursday though there was no sound of fighting or shelling. The US-led coalition said on Wednesday "the most hardened" jihadists remain in Baghouz. More than 2,000 civilians left the enclave on Wednesday, the SDF said. It has said more than 20,000 civilians left Baghouz in the days leading up to the start of the SDF's final push to capture the enclave this month. The SDF has not ruled out the possibility that some Islamic State fighters had left Baghouz with the civilians. SDF and coalition forces are recording the names and questioning everyone who has left in the civilian convoys. Many of the people who left the enclave in civilian convoys have been Iraqis, some of whom said they had crossed from Iraq into Syria as Iraqi government forces made gains against Islamic State on the other side of the frontier. Facing the consequences Two Iraqi military sources told Reuters the handover of Islamic State fighters on Thursday was the first of several. "The majority of the fighters are Iraqi," said a military colonel whose unit is stationed at the Syrian border. "But we have a few foreigners." Islamic State, whose leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared himself "caliph", or leader of all Muslims, in 2014, attracted members from all over the world, including many Western states. A Turkish official said Turkey was doubling down its own security measures to make it harder for foreign fighters still in Syria or Iraq to pass through Turkey, noting that the threat was much greater than the 800 that the SDF says it is holding. Western countries refusing to repatriate jihadists were not living up to their responsibilities and leaving countries like Turkey to face the consequences, the official added. Britain has stripped the citizenship of a teenager who went to Syria aged 15 to join Islamic State. But interior minister Sajid Javid said he would not take a decision that would leave anyone stateless, after Bangladesh said it would not accept her. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said a woman born in the United States who joined Islamic State did not qualify for US citizenship and had no legal basis to return to the country.

Operation to end last IS Syria pocket hits evacuation snag

The US military will keep around 200 troops in Syria after President Donald Trump's pullout from the war-torn country, the White House said Thursday.

"A small peace-keeping group of about 200 will remain in Syria for a period of time," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

The announcement comes amid fierce criticism of Trump's decision to withdraw America's 2,000 or so troops from Syria by April 30, with members of his own Republican Party blasting the move.

In December, Trump declared victory over the Islamic State group in Syria, even though thousands of jihadists remain and fighting continues around their last holdout.&nbsp;

Critics have decried a number of possible outcomes from a precipitous withdrawal, including a Turkish attack on US-backed Kurdish forces and a resurgence of IS.

Sanders did not provide additional details, but the troops' "peace-keeping" designation could pave the way for European allies to commit forces for such a mission.

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan visited Europe last week where he attempted to convince allies to maintain a troop presence in Syria after the US pulls out.&nbsp;

But he struggled to persuade other countries why they should risk their forces with America gone.

Trump earlier Thursday spoke with Turkish President Recep Erdogan, and the two men discussed Syria, according to a White House summary.

"The two presidents agreed to continue coordinating on the creation of a potential safe zone" in Syria, the readout said.

At the height of its rule, IS imposed its brutal ideology on a territory roughly the size of the United Kingdom, attracting thousands of supporters from abroad.

But the jihadists have since lost almost all their territory save for a tiny sliver of around half a square kilometer (a fifth of a square mile) in the eastern Syrian village of Baghouz.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are working towards evacuating civilians remaining in the holdout, so they can polish off the dying IS "caliphate" whether through an assault or a surrender deal.

Syria's Kurds have long demanded the repatriation of foreigners accused of belonging to IS in their custody, but their home countries have been reluctant.

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was barring a US-born former IS propagandist from returning home from Syria, where the conflict has killed more than 360,000 people and displaced millions since 2011.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday that the diplomatic status of the father of Alabama woman Hoda Muthana means she is not a US citizen.

It came after a lawyer for the family of a teenager who fled London to join the jihadists when she was 15 said Britain was revoking her citizenship.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The US military will keep around 200 troops in Syria after President Donald Trump's pullout from the war-torn country, the White House said Thursday. "A small peace-keeping group of about 200 will remain in Syria for a period of time," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

The US military will keep around 200 troops in Syria after President Donald Trump's pullout from the war-torn country, the White House said Thursday. "A small peace-keeping group of about 200 will remain in Syria for a period of time," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. The announcement comes amid fierce criticism of Trump's decision to withdraw America's 2,000 or so troops from Syria by April 30, with members of his own Republican Party blasting the move. In December, Trump declared victory over the Islamic State group in Syria, even though thousands of jihadists remain and fighting continues around their last holdout. Critics have decried a number of possible outcomes from a precipitous withdrawal, including a Turkish attack on US-backed Kurdish forces and a resurgence of IS. Sanders did not provide additional details, but the troops' "peace-keeping" designation could pave the way for European allies to commit forces for such a mission. Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan visited Europe last week where he attempted to convince allies to maintain a troop presence in Syria after the US pulls out. But he struggled to persuade other countries why they should risk their forces with America gone. Trump earlier Thursday spoke with Turkish President Recep Erdogan, and the two men discussed Syria, according to a White House summary. "The two presidents agreed to continue coordinating on the creation of a potential safe zone" in Syria, the readout said. At the height of its rule, IS imposed its brutal ideology on a territory roughly the size of the United Kingdom, attracting thousands of supporters from abroad. But the jihadists have since lost almost all their territory save for a tiny sliver of around half a square kilometer (a fifth of a square mile) in the eastern Syrian village of Baghouz. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are working towards evacuating civilians remaining in the holdout, so they can polish off the dying IS "caliphate" whether through an assault or a surrender deal. Syria's Kurds have long demanded the repatriation of foreigners accused of belonging to IS in their custody, but their home countries have been reluctant. US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was barring a US-born former IS propagandist from returning home from Syria, where the conflict has killed more than 360,000 people and displaced millions since 2011. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday that the diplomatic status of the father of Alabama woman Hoda Muthana means she is not a US citizen. It came after a lawyer for the family of a teenager who fled London to join the jihadists when she was 15 said Britain was revoking her citizenship.

Around 200 US troops to remain in Syria after pullout: White House

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and US&nbsp;President Donald Trump agreed in a phone call on Thursday to carry out the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/around-200-us-troops-to-remain-in-syria-after-pullout-white-house-198898">US military withdrawal from Syria</a> in line with their mutual interests, Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency said.

In December, Trump confounded his own national security team with a surprise decision to withdraw all 2,000 US&nbsp;troops from Syria, declaring that Islamic State had been defeated there.

Erdogan previously said that uncertainty remained over the US&nbsp;withdrawal from Syria, adding there was talk of the pullout taking place in April or May.

During their phone call, Erdogan and Trump agreed that the US&nbsp;withdrawal from Syria should not damage the mutual goals of Ankara and Washington, Anadolu said.

Turkey wants to set up a safe zone with logistical support from allies and says it should be cleared of the US-backed Kurdish YPG militia, which Ankara views as a terrorist organisation linked with Kurdish militants on its own soil.

Erdogan and Trump also discussed bilateral relations and the latest developments in Syria, Anadolu said, adding that the two agreed to support a political resolution to the Syria conflict.

Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey's desire to maintain close ties with the United States in the phone call and the two leaders agreed to improve bilateral economic ties, Anadolu said.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump agreed in a phone call on Thursday to carry out the US military withdrawal from Syria in line with their mutual interests, Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency said.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump agreed in a phone call on Thursday to carry out the US military withdrawal from Syria in line with their mutual interests, Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency said. In December, Trump confounded his own national security team with a surprise decision to withdraw all 2,000 US troops from Syria, declaring that Islamic State had been defeated there. Erdogan previously said that uncertainty remained over the US withdrawal from Syria, adding there was talk of the pullout taking place in April or May. During their phone call, Erdogan and Trump agreed that the US withdrawal from Syria should not damage the mutual goals of Ankara and Washington, Anadolu said. Turkey wants to set up a safe zone with logistical support from allies and says it should be cleared of the US-backed Kurdish YPG militia, which Ankara views as a terrorist organisation linked with Kurdish militants on its own soil. Erdogan and Trump also discussed bilateral relations and the latest developments in Syria, Anadolu said, adding that the two agreed to support a political resolution to the Syria conflict. Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey's desire to maintain close ties with the United States in the phone call and the two leaders agreed to improve bilateral economic ties, Anadolu said.

In a phone call, Erdogan and Trump agree to carry out US withdrawal from Syria

The United States said Tuesday it wanted to ensure foreign jihadists remain off the battlefield as it weighed options on an American detained in Syria who says she wants to return home.

The United States has urged European powers to take back hundreds of their citizens who fought with the Islamic State movement in Syria, but acknowledged the situation was complex in the rare case of an American jihadist.

Hoda Muthana, a 24-year-old from Alabama who became a prominent online agitator for the extremists, said in an interview published Sunday with The Guardian that she had been brainwashed online and "deeply regrets" joining the movement.

While declining to discuss Muthana's case specifically, State Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said that the status of US citizens detained in Syria "is by definition extremely complicated."

"We're looking into these cases to better understand the details," he told reporters.

Palladino said that the United States generally did not see a different solution between what to do with US fighters and with foreigners, saying the fighters pose "a global threat."

"Repatriating these foreign terrorist fighters to their countries of origin, ensuring that they are prosecuted and detained -- that's the best solution, preventing them from returning to the battlefield," he said.

The situation of foreign jihadists detained by US-allied Kurdish forces has taken a new urgency as President Donald Trump plans to withdraw US troops from Syria.

The Syrian Democratic Forces say they may have to refocus on fighting Turkey, which has vowed to crush Kurdish fighters it links to separatists at home.

Trump has contemplated reopening the US military base at Guantanamo Bay to take in new foreign inmates, while Britain on Tuesday revoked the citizenship of a female jihadist who wanted to return home with her newborn baby.

Neither option would likely pass muster in the cases of US citizens, who enjoy strong legal protections under the Constitution.

Muthana, who was married three times to jihadists and has a son with one of her husbands, fled her family in 2014 to join the Islamic State group in Syria, where she took to Twitter to urge attacks on fellow Americans.

In the interview with The Guardian, Muthana said that she was "really young and ignorant" when she joined IS and has since renounced radicalism.

"I believe that America gives second chances. I want to return and I'll never come back to the Middle East," she told the newspaper.

Hassan Shilby, a lawyer for Muthana, told ABC television's "Good Morning America" that the young woman had been "brainwashed and manipulated" and is "absolutely disgusted" by the person she became.

The United States said Tuesday it wanted to ensure foreign jihadists remain off the battlefield as it weighed options on an American detained in Syria who says she wants to return home.

The United States said Tuesday it wanted to ensure foreign jihadists remain off the battlefield as it weighed options on an American detained in Syria who says she wants to return home. The United States has urged European powers to take back hundreds of their citizens who fought with the Islamic State movement in Syria, but acknowledged the situation was complex in the rare case of an American jihadist. Hoda Muthana, a 24-year-old from Alabama who became a prominent online agitator for the extremists, said in an interview published Sunday with The Guardian that she had been brainwashed online and "deeply regrets" joining the movement. While declining to discuss Muthana's case specifically, State Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said that the status of US citizens detained in Syria "is by definition extremely complicated." "We're looking into these cases to better understand the details," he told reporters. Palladino said that the United States generally did not see a different solution between what to do with US fighters and with foreigners, saying the fighters pose "a global threat." "Repatriating these foreign terrorist fighters to their countries of origin, ensuring that they are prosecuted and detained -- that's the best solution, preventing them from returning to the battlefield," he said. The situation of foreign jihadists detained by US-allied Kurdish forces has taken a new urgency as President Donald Trump plans to withdraw US troops from Syria. The Syrian Democratic Forces say they may have to refocus on fighting Turkey, which has vowed to crush Kurdish fighters it links to separatists at home. Trump has contemplated reopening the US military base at Guantanamo Bay to take in new foreign inmates, while Britain on Tuesday revoked the citizenship of a female jihadist who wanted to return home with her newborn baby. Neither option would likely pass muster in the cases of US citizens, who enjoy strong legal protections under the Constitution. Muthana, who was married three times to jihadists and has a son with one of her husbands, fled her family in 2014 to join the Islamic State group in Syria, where she took to Twitter to urge attacks on fellow Americans. In the interview with The Guardian, Muthana said that she was "really young and ignorant" when she joined IS and has since renounced radicalism. "I believe that America gives second chances. I want to return and I'll never come back to the Middle East," she told the newspaper. Hassan Shilby, a lawyer for Muthana, told ABC television's "Good Morning America" that the young woman had been "brainwashed and manipulated" and is "absolutely disgusted" by the person she became.

US weighing options on American Islamic State sympathiser in Syria

Britain will strip citizenship from Shamima Begum, a UK teenager who joined the Islamic State group in Syria and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uk-teen-who-joined-is-has-given-birth-in-syria-family-197927">wants to return home with a newborn baby</a>, a lawyer for her family said Tuesday.&nbsp;

"Family are very disappointed with the Home Office's intention to have an order made depriving Shamima of her citizenship," their lawyer Tasnime Akunjee said on Twitter.&nbsp;

"We are considering all legal avenues to challenge this decision," he wrote.

ITV News reported that the Home Office has sent a letter to Begum's mother, received Tuesday, notifying the family of the decision, which it said Begum had the right to appeal.

The Home Office -- Britain's interior ministry -- did not immediately reply to a request for comment from AFP.

The 19-year-old East London native joined IS in Syria in 2015 along with two classmates.

She is currently in a &nbsp;refugee camp in northeast Syria where she fled fighting in the east of the country along with hundreds of other people with links to IS.&nbsp;

At the weekend she gave birth to her third child, and asked the British authorities to show "compassion" by allowing her to raise the baby in Britain -- while expressing no regret over having joined IS.

Her other two babies died, apparently from illness and malnutrition.

Begum's case points up a dilemma facing many European countries, divided over whether to bar jihadists from returning home over security concerns, or allowing them to return to face prosecution.

Britain will strip citizenship from Shamima Begum, a UK teenager who joined the Islamic State group in Syria and wants to return home with a newborn baby, a lawyer for her family said Tuesday.

Britain will strip citizenship from Shamima Begum, a UK teenager who joined the Islamic State group in Syria and wants to return home with a newborn baby, a lawyer for her family said Tuesday. "Family are very disappointed with the Home Office's intention to have an order made depriving Shamima of her citizenship," their lawyer Tasnime Akunjee said on Twitter. "We are considering all legal avenues to challenge this decision," he wrote. ITV News reported that the Home Office has sent a letter to Begum's mother, received Tuesday, notifying the family of the decision, which it said Begum had the right to appeal. The Home Office -- Britain's interior ministry -- did not immediately reply to a request for comment from AFP. The 19-year-old East London native joined IS in Syria in 2015 along with two classmates. She is currently in a refugee camp in northeast Syria where she fled fighting in the east of the country along with hundreds of other people with links to IS. At the weekend she gave birth to her third child, and asked the British authorities to show "compassion" by allowing her to raise the baby in Britain -- while expressing no regret over having joined IS. Her other two babies died, apparently from illness and malnutrition. Begum's case points up a dilemma facing many European countries, divided over whether to bar jihadists from returning home over security concerns, or allowing them to return to face prosecution.

Britain to strip teen who joined Islamic State of citizenship: Lawyer

Trucks entered the last Islamic State enclave in eastern Syria on Tuesday to evacuate remaining civilians, said a source in the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which is poised to capture the area.

The SDF has said isolating the civilians in the enclave at Baghouz from the remaining jihadists holed up inside is a crucial step towards the final capture of the last territory held by the jihadist group in eastern Syria.

Dozens of trucks could be seen moving along a road towards the village.

The United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said earlier on Tuesday that some 200 families remained trapped in the Islamic State enclave and called for their safe passage out.

Backed by a US-led international coalition, the SDF has recaptured swathes of northeastern Syria from Islamic State since 2015, finally cornering the group around Baghouz at the Iraqi border.

Islamic State lost most of its territory in 2017 in both Iraq and Syria to separate military campaigns by the SDF and the Iraqi and Syrian governments.

However, while the group has lost almost all of the caliphate it proclaimed in 2014, it has carried out guerrilla attacks in areas it controls and numerous Western and Middle East officials have said it still poses a threat.

Trucks entered the last Islamic State enclave in eastern Syria on Tuesday to evacuate remaining civilians, said a source in the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which is poised to capture the area.

Trucks entered the last Islamic State enclave in eastern Syria on Tuesday to evacuate remaining civilians, said a source in the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which is poised to capture the area. The SDF has said isolating the civilians in the enclave at Baghouz from the remaining jihadists holed up inside is a crucial step towards the final capture of the last territory held by the jihadist group in eastern Syria. Dozens of trucks could be seen moving along a road towards the village. The United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said earlier on Tuesday that some 200 families remained trapped in the Islamic State enclave and called for their safe passage out. Backed by a US-led international coalition, the SDF has recaptured swathes of northeastern Syria from Islamic State since 2015, finally cornering the group around Baghouz at the Iraqi border. Islamic State lost most of its territory in 2017 in both Iraq and Syria to separate military campaigns by the SDF and the Iraqi and Syrian governments. However, while the group has lost almost all of the caliphate it proclaimed in 2014, it has carried out guerrilla attacks in areas it controls and numerous Western and Middle East officials have said it still poses a threat.

Trucks prepare to evacuate last civilians from Syrian IS enclave: SDF source

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continued their advance against the Islamic State in a battle to capture its last enclave in eastern Syria.

A Reuters witness said there was a lull in fighting on Monday where Islamic State fighters could be seen strolling in their last neighbourhood of Baghouz village, near the Iraqi border where they are sheltering among civilians.

SDF commanders said the presence of civilians among the militants was compelling their fighters to proceed cautiously.

With US&nbsp;help, the Kurdish-led fighters are poised to seize Islamic State's last holdout. At the height of its power four years ago, Islamic State held about a third of both Iraq and Syria in a self-proclaimed caliphate.

Though Islamic State fighters still hold out in a pocket of central Syria's remote desert and have gone underground as sleeper cells in Iraqi cities, able to launch new attacks, their territorial rule is, for now, almost over.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continued their advance against the Islamic State in a battle to capture its last enclave in eastern Syria. A Reuters witness said there was a lull in fighting on Monday where Islamic State fighters could be seen strolling in their last neighbourhood of Baghouz village, near the Iraqi border where they are sheltering among civilians.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continued their advance against the Islamic State in a battle to capture its last enclave in eastern Syria. A Reuters witness said there was a lull in fighting on Monday where Islamic State fighters could be seen strolling in their last neighbourhood of Baghouz village, near the Iraqi border where they are sheltering among civilians. SDF commanders said the presence of civilians among the militants was compelling their fighters to proceed cautiously. With US help, the Kurdish-led fighters are poised to seize Islamic State's last holdout. At the height of its power four years ago, Islamic State held about a third of both Iraq and Syria in a self-proclaimed caliphate. Though Islamic State fighters still hold out in a pocket of central Syria's remote desert and have gone underground as sleeper cells in Iraqi cities, able to launch new attacks, their territorial rule is, for now, almost over.

Syrian Democratic Forces advance on IS in Baghouz

A double bomb attack in Syria's jihadist-held city of Idlib on Monday killed 24 people, including four children, a war monitor said.

The first blast was caused by a bomb planted under a car in the main city of the Idlib region, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

A motorcycle bomb detonated after ambulances arrived at the scene of the first explosion, the Britain-based monitoring group said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which the Observatory said also wounded at least 51, updating an earlier casualty toll.

Idlib, the last major part of Syria still outside the control of President Bashar al-Assad's regime, is held by an alliance led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

HTS took administrative control of the whole of the region last month, after overpowering smaller Turkey-backed factions.

The Islamic State group also has sleeper cells in the area.

A local office of the "Salvation Government", an administrative body created by HTS, is located on the street targeted by Monday's attack.

Four HTS fighters were killed in the blast, the Observatory said, while the other 20 victims were civilians.

Idlib has been protected from a massive regime offensive since September by a buffer zone deal agreed by regime ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey.&nbsp;

But it has been hit by sporadic government shelling.

Eight years into the conflict that has killed more than 360,000 people, the government controls nearly two-thirds of the country.

A double bomb attack in Syria's jihadist-held city of Idlib on Monday killed 24 people, including four children, a war monitor said. The first blast was caused by a bomb planted under a car in the main city of the Idlib region, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

A double bomb attack in Syria's jihadist-held city of Idlib on Monday killed 24 people, including four children, a war monitor said. The first blast was caused by a bomb planted under a car in the main city of the Idlib region, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. A motorcycle bomb detonated after ambulances arrived at the scene of the first explosion, the Britain-based monitoring group said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which the Observatory said also wounded at least 51, updating an earlier casualty toll. Idlib, the last major part of Syria still outside the control of President Bashar al-Assad's regime, is held by an alliance led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. HTS took administrative control of the whole of the region last month, after overpowering smaller Turkey-backed factions. The Islamic State group also has sleeper cells in the area. A local office of the "Salvation Government", an administrative body created by HTS, is located on the street targeted by Monday's attack. Four HTS fighters were killed in the blast, the Observatory said, while the other 20 victims were civilians. Idlib has been protected from a massive regime offensive since September by a buffer zone deal agreed by regime ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey. But it has been hit by sporadic government shelling. Eight years into the conflict that has killed more than 360,000 people, the government controls nearly two-thirds of the country.

Twin bombing hits Syria's Idlib, death toll reaches 24: Monitor

As the end nears for the IS enclave in Syria and the fate of jihadists' family members becomes a prescient issue, Russia can be seen as a pioneer in systematically returning children of Islamist fighters home.

A potential homecoming of the many foreign women who have gone to live in the IS "caliphate" and their children, many of whom were born there, has been a subject of debate in Russia, with some security chiefs seeing them as potential threats.

Earlier this month, 27 children, from four to 13 years old, were flown from Iraq to the Moscow region.

Clutching stuffed toys and bundled in winter jackets, the children were carried off the cargo plane to face the Russian winter after years in the desert.

After health exams, they would be given into the care of their uncles, aunts, and grandparents in the Russian North Caucasus, the majority-Muslim territory in the south of Russia that is home to most of the Russians that had joined the Islamic State group.

Another 30 children were brought back in late December.

"They attend school and kindergarten. Volunteers work with them and talk to them about what they have been through, explaining how they have been indoctrinated," said Kheda Saratova, an advisor to Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who has assumed a central role in the process of repatriating Islamists' relatives.

Russian authorities have given sometimes conflicting figures of returnees. Saratova said that about 200 children have been brought to Russia, but nearly 1,400 are still stuck in Iraq and Syria.

Kadyrov, a longtime Kremlin protege with vast resources, began efforts to bring back fighters' children in 2017. Diplomatic negotiations are often led by Aleppo-born Chechnya senator Ziyad Sabsabi.

Endorsing Kadyrov's efforts, President Vladimir Putin in late 2017 called the drive to return the children "a very honourable and correct deed" and promised to help.

"It's very good for the image of Kadyrov. He seems somebody who doesn't just use violence against terrorists but who builds mosques and hands out humanitarian aid," said Grigory Shvedov, who edits a Caucasus-focused news website Caucasian Knot.

When he began Russia's intervention in Syria in 2015, Putin justified it by the need to kill jihadists before they come to Russia.

Although some regions have tried rehabilitation programmes for Islamic extremists, these have failed to catch on at the national level. Young men who returned from Syria or Iraq and turned themselves in have faced harsh punishment.

This month Russia's Supreme Court confirmed a 16-year-term for a young man who went to Syria as a 19-year-old student and worked as a cook and driver on IS-controlled territory for six months.

Returning the wives of jihadists is also complicated by the absence of an extradition agreement between Russia and Iraq, where many have been sentenced, sometimes to life, in prison.

But there is also reluctance by Russia's powerful security services to bring home adult civilians.

FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov in November noted that many women with children exiting conflict zones have been used by jihadists as suicide bombers or recruiters.

"The FSB sees them as dangerous, even though many of these wives purchase their freedom from the Kurds and will eventually return one way or another," said Saratova.

Any affiliation with Islamic State jihadists is a crime, since the group is banned under Russian law.

As the end nears for the IS enclave in Syria and the fate of jihadists' family members becomes a prescient issue, Russia can be seen as a pioneer in systematically returning children of Islamist fighters home.

As the end nears for the IS enclave in Syria and the fate of jihadists' family members becomes a prescient issue, Russia can be seen as a pioneer in systematically returning children of Islamist fighters home. A potential homecoming of the many foreign women who have gone to live in the IS "caliphate" and their children, many of whom were born there, has been a subject of debate in Russia, with some security chiefs seeing them as potential threats. Earlier this month, 27 children, from four to 13 years old, were flown from Iraq to the Moscow region. Clutching stuffed toys and bundled in winter jackets, the children were carried off the cargo plane to face the Russian winter after years in the desert. After health exams, they would be given into the care of their uncles, aunts, and grandparents in the Russian North Caucasus, the majority-Muslim territory in the south of Russia that is home to most of the Russians that had joined the Islamic State group. Another 30 children were brought back in late December. "They attend school and kindergarten. Volunteers work with them and talk to them about what they have been through, explaining how they have been indoctrinated," said Kheda Saratova, an advisor to Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who has assumed a central role in the process of repatriating Islamists' relatives. Russian authorities have given sometimes conflicting figures of returnees. Saratova said that about 200 children have been brought to Russia, but nearly 1,400 are still stuck in Iraq and Syria. Kadyrov, a longtime Kremlin protege with vast resources, began efforts to bring back fighters' children in 2017. Diplomatic negotiations are often led by Aleppo-born Chechnya senator Ziyad Sabsabi. Endorsing Kadyrov's efforts, President Vladimir Putin in late 2017 called the drive to return the children "a very honourable and correct deed" and promised to help. "It's very good for the image of Kadyrov. He seems somebody who doesn't just use violence against terrorists but who builds mosques and hands out humanitarian aid," said Grigory Shvedov, who edits a Caucasus-focused news website Caucasian Knot. When he began Russia's intervention in Syria in 2015, Putin justified it by the need to kill jihadists before they come to Russia. Although some regions have tried rehabilitation programmes for Islamic extremists, these have failed to catch on at the national level. Young men who returned from Syria or Iraq and turned themselves in have faced harsh punishment. This month Russia's Supreme Court confirmed a 16-year-term for a young man who went to Syria as a 19-year-old student and worked as a cook and driver on IS-controlled territory for six months. Returning the wives of jihadists is also complicated by the absence of an extradition agreement between Russia and Iraq, where many have been sentenced, sometimes to life, in prison. But there is also reluctance by Russia's powerful security services to bring home adult civilians. FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov in November noted that many women with children exiting conflict zones have been used by jihadists as suicide bombers or recruiters. "The FSB sees them as dangerous, even though many of these wives purchase their freedom from the Kurds and will eventually return one way or another," said Saratova. Any affiliation with Islamic State jihadists is a crime, since the group is banned under Russian law.

Russia pioneering return of 'ISIS children'

The commander of US-backed forces in Syria called on Monday for about 1,000 to 1,500 international forces to remain in Syria to help fight Islamic State and expressed hope that the United States, in particular, would halt plans for a total pullout.

The remarks by Mazloum Kobani, the commander-in-chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, followed talks with senior US&nbsp;generals at an airbase in northeast Syria and offered perhaps the most comprehensive view to date of his requests for enduring military assistance from the US-led coalition.

"We would like to have air cover, air support and a force on the ground to coordinate with us," Kobani told a small group of reporters who travelled with the US&nbsp;military to an airbase at an undisclosed location in northeast Syria.

With US&nbsp;help, the Kurdish-led fighters are poised to seize Islamic State's last holdout in eastern Syria. At the height of its power four years ago, Islamic State held about a third of both Iraq and Syria in a self-proclaimed Caliphate.

But Islamic State still has thousands of fighters, who, now dispersed, are expected to turn to guerrilla-style attacks.

Kobani said there were discussions about perhaps French and British troops supporting the SDF in Syria. But he stressed he also wanted at least "a partial group of American forces," who now number more than 2,000 in Syria, to stay as well.

US&nbsp;Army General Joseph Votel, head of Central Command, said after the talks with Kobani that he was still carrying out President Donald Trump's December order for a complete US. withdrawal of American forces.

"We certainly understand what they would like us to do, but of course that's not the path we're on at this particular point," Votel told reporters.

US presence

Asked about any discussions on a continuing US&nbsp;presence in Syria, Votel said: "So the discussion really isn't about US&nbsp;forces staying here. We've looked at potentially what coalition (forces) might be able to do here."

Trump's surprise December decision to withdraw all the US&nbsp;troops from Syria has triggered deep concern among US&nbsp;allies about the risk of an eventual resurgence of Islamic State.

But the pullout raises an even more immediate threat to Kobani's SDF, which fears that Turkey will make good on threats to attack them. He warned of a "new genocide" in SDF controlled areas of Syria.

Kobani thanked Trump for publicly stating his intent to protect the SDF but said: "I want him to live up to his word."

Without a deal with the US-led coalition, experts say Kobani may have to strike a deal with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to avoid a Turkish sweep or a resurgence of Islamic State.

Votel is recommending continued support to the SDF as long as it keeps up pressure on Islamic State militants.

But Army Lieutenant General Paul LaCamera, who is the commander of the US-led coalition battling Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, cautioned on Sunday that the United States would be legally unable to support the SDF if they partnered with Assad or Assad's Russian backers.

Kobani stressed he was not seeking a military deal with Damascus.

Perhaps sensing an opportunity to stoke doubt among the Kurdish communities, Assad warned on Sunday the United States would not protect those depending on it.

"We say to those groups who are betting on the Americans, the Americans will not protect you," he said. "The Americans will put you in their pockets so you can be tools in the barter, and they have started with (it)."

Senator Angus King, an independent from Maine, is among the US&nbsp;lawmakers expressing concern the US&nbsp;withdrawal could deal a devastating blow to Kurdish forces and warned that any sense of US&nbsp;betrayal could cast a long shadow for years to come.

"It will chill future potential groups from assisting us if we're going to treat the people who have been so stalwart on our behalf in this way. It is very dangerous in terms of national security," he has said.

The commander of US-backed forces in Syria called on Monday for about 1,000 to 1,500 international forces to remain in Syria to help fight Islamic State and expressed hope that the United States, in particular, would halt plans for a total pullout.

The commander of US-backed forces in Syria called on Monday for about 1,000 to 1,500 international forces to remain in Syria to help fight Islamic State and expressed hope that the United States, in particular, would halt plans for a total pullout. The remarks by Mazloum Kobani, the commander-in-chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, followed talks with senior US generals at an airbase in northeast Syria and offered perhaps the most comprehensive view to date of his requests for enduring military assistance from the US-led coalition. "We would like to have air cover, air support and a force on the ground to coordinate with us," Kobani told a small group of reporters who travelled with the US military to an airbase at an undisclosed location in northeast Syria. With US help, the Kurdish-led fighters are poised to seize Islamic State's last holdout in eastern Syria. At the height of its power four years ago, Islamic State held about a third of both Iraq and Syria in a self-proclaimed Caliphate. But Islamic State still has thousands of fighters, who, now dispersed, are expected to turn to guerrilla-style attacks. Kobani said there were discussions about perhaps French and British troops supporting the SDF in Syria. But he stressed he also wanted at least "a partial group of American forces," who now number more than 2,000 in Syria, to stay as well. US Army General Joseph Votel, head of Central Command, said after the talks with Kobani that he was still carrying out President Donald Trump's December order for a complete US. withdrawal of American forces. "We certainly understand what they would like us to do, but of course that's not the path we're on at this particular point," Votel told reporters. US presence Asked about any discussions on a continuing US presence in Syria, Votel said: "So the discussion really isn't about US forces staying here. We've looked at potentially what coalition (forces) might be able to do here." Trump's surprise December decision to withdraw all the US troops from Syria has triggered deep concern among US allies about the risk of an eventual resurgence of Islamic State. But the pullout raises an even more immediate threat to Kobani's SDF, which fears that Turkey will make good on threats to attack them. He warned of a "new genocide" in SDF controlled areas of Syria. Kobani thanked Trump for publicly stating his intent to protect the SDF but said: "I want him to live up to his word." Without a deal with the US-led coalition, experts say Kobani may have to strike a deal with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to avoid a Turkish sweep or a resurgence of Islamic State. Votel is recommending continued support to the SDF as long as it keeps up pressure on Islamic State militants. But Army Lieutenant General Paul LaCamera, who is the commander of the US-led coalition battling Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, cautioned on Sunday that the United States would be legally unable to support the SDF if they partnered with Assad or Assad's Russian backers. Kobani stressed he was not seeking a military deal with Damascus. Perhaps sensing an opportunity to stoke doubt among the Kurdish communities, Assad warned on Sunday the United States would not protect those depending on it. "We say to those groups who are betting on the Americans, the Americans will not protect you," he said. "The Americans will put you in their pockets so you can be tools in the barter, and they have started with (it)." Senator Angus King, an independent from Maine, is among the US lawmakers expressing concern the US withdrawal could deal a devastating blow to Kurdish forces and warned that any sense of US betrayal could cast a long shadow for years to come. "It will chill future potential groups from assisting us if we're going to treat the people who have been so stalwart on our behalf in this way. It is very dangerous in terms of national security," he has said.

US-backed Syrian forces call for 1,500 coalition troops to stay

A United States-backed Syrian militia on Monday said it would declare the defeat of the Islamic State terror organization in the war-torn country in a short time.

On February 9, the Syrian Democratic Forces, an ethnically-mixed militia led by Kurds, launched an offensive against besieged IS militants in the village of Baghuz, the only area still under the radical group's control in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, near the Iraqi border.

"In a few days, we will be able to announce the total and definitive victory over IS," SDF spokesman Kino Gabriel told EFE.

Gabriel added the release of civilian prisoners held by extremists in Baghuz was being negotiated.

The US-allied fighters have been carrying out offensives against IS-held areas in Syria and have conquered most of the radicals' bastions in Deir al-Zour during the past weeks.

In December, US President Donald Trump surprised allies when he announced the pullout of 2,000 US troops from Syria but has not set a specific date for it yet, a move that led to the resignation of US Defense Secretary James Mattis.

"We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency," Trump tweeted.

His decision drew criticism from the Kurdish militia, as there are fears Turkey could launch an offensive against the SDF, led by the People's Protection Units (YPG).

Turkey considers the YPG as a part of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Following Trump's announcement, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo embarked last months on an extensive tour of the Middle East in a bid to reassure US allies of Washington's commitment to the region.

He began his trip with a visit to Jordan, followed by Iraq, Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Over the weekend, Trump demanded Europe take in IS militants captured in Syria and threatened the US would be forced to release them otherwise.

"The United States is asking Britain, France, Germany and other European allies to take back over 800 ISIS (another acronym for the Islamic State) fighters that we captured in Syria and put them on trial. The Caliphate is ready to fall. The alternative is not a good one in that we will be forced to release them," he tweeted.

"The US does not want to watch as these ISIS fighters permeate Europe, which is where they are expected to go. We do so much, and spend so much – Time for others to step up and do the job that they are so capable of doing. We are pulling back after 100% Caliphate victory!" Trump added. 
&nbsp;

A United States-backed Syrian militia on Monday said it would declare the defeat of the Islamic State terror organization in the war-torn country in a short time.

A United States-backed Syrian militia on Monday said it would declare the defeat of the Islamic State terror organization in the war-torn country in a short time. On February 9, the Syrian Democratic Forces, an ethnically-mixed militia led by Kurds, launched an offensive against besieged IS militants in the village of Baghuz, the only area still under the radical group's control in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, near the Iraqi border. "In a few days, we will be able to announce the total and definitive victory over IS," SDF spokesman Kino Gabriel told EFE. Gabriel added the release of civilian prisoners held by extremists in Baghuz was being negotiated. The US-allied fighters have been carrying out offensives against IS-held areas in Syria and have conquered most of the radicals' bastions in Deir al-Zour during the past weeks. In December, US President Donald Trump surprised allies when he announced the pullout of 2,000 US troops from Syria but has not set a specific date for it yet, a move that led to the resignation of US Defense Secretary James Mattis. "We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency," Trump tweeted. His decision drew criticism from the Kurdish militia, as there are fears Turkey could launch an offensive against the SDF, led by the People's Protection Units (YPG). Turkey considers the YPG as a part of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Following Trump's announcement, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo embarked last months on an extensive tour of the Middle East in a bid to reassure US allies of Washington's commitment to the region. He began his trip with a visit to Jordan, followed by Iraq, Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman. Over the weekend, Trump demanded Europe take in IS militants captured in Syria and threatened the US would be forced to release them otherwise. "The United States is asking Britain, France, Germany and other European allies to take back over 800 ISIS (another acronym for the Islamic State) fighters that we captured in Syria and put them on trial. The Caliphate is ready to fall. The alternative is not a good one in that we will be forced to release them," he tweeted. "The US does not want to watch as these ISIS fighters permeate Europe, which is where they are expected to go. We do so much, and spend so much – Time for others to step up and do the job that they are so capable of doing. We are pulling back after 100% Caliphate victory!" Trump added.

US-backed forces in Syria say they will soon declare defeat of Islamic State

Germany vowed Monday to prosecute German IS fighters but warned that it would be "extremely difficult" to organise the repatriation of European nationals from Syria after US President Donald Trump called on allies to take back alleged jihadists.

Syria's US-backed Kurdish forces, which are battling Islamic State group jihadists in their last redoubt in eastern Syria, hold hundreds of suspected foreign IS fighters and the calls for their reluctant home countries to take them back have grown in urgency.

"We must be able to ensure that prosecution is possible," Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen told Bild daily.

Underlining the difficulties however of putting the ex-fighters on trial, the minister noted that there is "no government in Syria with which we have a sensible relationship".

President Bashar "Assad cannot be our counterpart, the Syrian-democratic forces are not a unity government," she added, stressing that proof and witness statements needed to be secured in Syria if the militants are to be put on trial.

Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said separately that a return could only be possible if "we can guarantee that these people can be immediately sent here to appear in court and that they will be detained".

For this, "we need judicial information, and this is not yet the case," Maas told ARD television late Sunday. Under such conditions, repatriation would be "extremely difficult to achieve".

Berlin wants to "consult with France and Britain... over how to proceed," he said.

The subject is to be raised on Monday at a meeting of European foreign ministers called to discuss among other issues "the situation in Syria, in particular, the recent developments on the ground," according to an agenda for the talks.

Trump on Sunday called on his European allies to take back alleged jihadists captured in Syria.

IS imposed a self-declared caliphate across parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq from 2014, but has since lost all of it except a tiny patch of less than half a square kilometre near the Iraqi border.

After years of fighting IS, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) hold hundreds of foreigners accused of fighting for the group, as well as their wives and children.

Syria's Kurds have repeatedly called for their countries of origin to take them back, but these nations have been reluctant.

"The United States is asking Britain, France, Germany and other European allies to take back over 800 ISIS fighters that we captured in Syria and put them on trial," Trump said in a tweet, using another acronym for IS.

After initial reluctance, Paris appears ready to consider the return of its nationals.

In Belgium, Justice Minister Koen Geens called for a "European solution" on Sunday, calling for "calm reflection and looking at what would be the least security risks".

Germany vowed Monday to prosecute German IS fighters but warned that it would be "extremely difficult" to organise the repatriation of European nationals from Syria after US President Donald Trump called on allies to take back alleged jihadists.

Germany vowed Monday to prosecute German IS fighters but warned that it would be "extremely difficult" to organise the repatriation of European nationals from Syria after US President Donald Trump called on allies to take back alleged jihadists. Syria's US-backed Kurdish forces, which are battling Islamic State group jihadists in their last redoubt in eastern Syria, hold hundreds of suspected foreign IS fighters and the calls for their reluctant home countries to take them back have grown in urgency. "We must be able to ensure that prosecution is possible," Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen told Bild daily. Underlining the difficulties however of putting the ex-fighters on trial, the minister noted that there is "no government in Syria with which we have a sensible relationship". President Bashar "Assad cannot be our counterpart, the Syrian-democratic forces are not a unity government," she added, stressing that proof and witness statements needed to be secured in Syria if the militants are to be put on trial. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said separately that a return could only be possible if "we can guarantee that these people can be immediately sent here to appear in court and that they will be detained". For this, "we need judicial information, and this is not yet the case," Maas told ARD television late Sunday. Under such conditions, repatriation would be "extremely difficult to achieve". Berlin wants to "consult with France and Britain... over how to proceed," he said. The subject is to be raised on Monday at a meeting of European foreign ministers called to discuss among other issues "the situation in Syria, in particular, the recent developments on the ground," according to an agenda for the talks. Trump on Sunday called on his European allies to take back alleged jihadists captured in Syria. IS imposed a self-declared caliphate across parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq from 2014, but has since lost all of it except a tiny patch of less than half a square kilometre near the Iraqi border. After years of fighting IS, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) hold hundreds of foreigners accused of fighting for the group, as well as their wives and children. Syria's Kurds have repeatedly called for their countries of origin to take them back, but these nations have been reluctant. "The United States is asking Britain, France, Germany and other European allies to take back over 800 ISIS fighters that we captured in Syria and put them on trial," Trump said in a tweet, using another acronym for IS. After initial reluctance, Paris appears ready to consider the return of its nationals. In Belgium, Justice Minister Koen Geens called for a "European solution" on Sunday, calling for "calm reflection and looking at what would be the least security risks".

Germany wants trial for Syria jihadists but warns of difficulties

The Islamic State (ISIS) has been reduced to just 700 square metres in Syria, as the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched a major offensive last week to eliminate the terror outfit from the war-torn country, a top commander overseeing the operations said on Saturday.

The offensive is currently taking place in Baghouz Al-Fawqani town located in eastern Syria, said Commander Chia Kobani, head of operations for the SDF, CNN reported.

Kobani said that the SDF fighters have slowed down their advance in order to avoid harming thousands of civilians who are being held by the ISIS as human shields, although the US-backed forces have encircled the terror group`s last stronghold.

The commander underlined that the SDF is taking precautionary steps to free prisoners held by the ISIS, adding that 10 of them have been liberated in recent days.

"Some may be surprised that Baghouz has not yet fallen. But the firing has stopped. The area is within range of our fire. But we are moving cautiously because there are thousands of civilians being held as human shields," Kobani was quoted by CNN as saying.

"In the coming few days, very shortly, we will broadcast the good news to the world, to all the people of the region, the Kurds, the Arabs, the Assyrians, all the people of the region, of the military end of the ISIS terrorist group," he added.

Kobani put forth that the SDF`s efforts would not conclude with the removal of ISIS` presence "on the ground."

"We will move to the next stage to the stage of combating ISIS and its sleeper cells and its remnants in the area in order to secure the safety of this region and the lives of people," he said.

Syria has been embroiled in a civil war since 2011. The grim situation was further aggravated with the establishment of ISIS in Syria and Iraq in 2014, when its de facto leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a "caliphate".

At its peak, the terror outfit controlled huge parts of Iraq and Syria with a population of over 10 million people. However, since 2017, the group has been losing hold on major territories in both countries to US-backed military forces.

The Islamic State (ISIS) has been reduced to just 700 square metres in Syria, as the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched a major offensive last week to eliminate the terror outfit from the war-torn country, a top commander overseeing the operations said on Saturday.

The Islamic State (ISIS) has been reduced to just 700 square metres in Syria, as the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched a major offensive last week to eliminate the terror outfit from the war-torn country, a top commander overseeing the operations said on Saturday. The offensive is currently taking place in Baghouz Al-Fawqani town located in eastern Syria, said Commander Chia Kobani, head of operations for the SDF, CNN reported. Kobani said that the SDF fighters have slowed down their advance in order to avoid harming thousands of civilians who are being held by the ISIS as human shields, although the US-backed forces have encircled the terror group`s last stronghold. The commander underlined that the SDF is taking precautionary steps to free prisoners held by the ISIS, adding that 10 of them have been liberated in recent days. "Some may be surprised that Baghouz has not yet fallen. But the firing has stopped. The area is within range of our fire. But we are moving cautiously because there are thousands of civilians being held as human shields," Kobani was quoted by CNN as saying. "In the coming few days, very shortly, we will broadcast the good news to the world, to all the people of the region, the Kurds, the Arabs, the Assyrians, all the people of the region, of the military end of the ISIS terrorist group," he added. Kobani put forth that the SDF`s efforts would not conclude with the removal of ISIS` presence "on the ground." "We will move to the next stage to the stage of combating ISIS and its sleeper cells and its remnants in the area in order to secure the safety of this region and the lives of people," he said. Syria has been embroiled in a civil war since 2011. The grim situation was further aggravated with the establishment of ISIS in Syria and Iraq in 2014, when its de facto leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a "caliphate". At its peak, the terror outfit controlled huge parts of Iraq and Syria with a population of over 10 million people. However, since 2017, the group has been losing hold on major territories in both countries to US-backed military forces.

ISIS controlling just 700 square metres in Syria: SDF

The week that was, in pictures

A runaway teenager who has divided British opinion after joining the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/islamic-state-pregnant-teens-wish-to-return-stirs-uk-debate-over-jihadi-brides-197691">Islamic State group in Syria but now wants to return</a> home has given birth, her family said on Sunday.&nbsp;

Shamima Begum, whose fate has prompted British soul-searching since she and two friends stirred controversy by fleeing to the terror network in 2015, gave birth to a boy, according to family lawyer Mohammed Akunjee.

"We, the family of Shamima Begum, have been informed that Shamima has given birth to her child," a statement he released on Twitter said.

"We understand that both she and the baby are in good health.

"As yet we have not had direct contact with Shamima, we are hoping to establish communications with her soon so that we can verify the above."

Akunjee told AFP the family had learned about the birth from a translator in an eastern Syria refugee camp where Begum is currently staying.

Begum had previously given birth to two other children, but both died during her time in Syria, she told The Times earlier this week.

Her case has highlighted the challenge for Western governments of dealing with returning jihadist supporters, after she told the newspaper that she wanted to raise her new baby in Britain.

The 19-year-old has expressed no regrets about joining the group and leading politicians, including interior minister Sajid Javid, have said they will try to stop her return.&nbsp;

Akunjee said Sunday Javid was "misunderstanding the law" and that Britain had a responsibility towards Begum and her newborn child.

"A parent has responsibility and so does Britain," he added.

Mixed response

The fresh focus on the case came as Britain's government appeared divided on how to respond to demands from US President Donald Trump that European nations take back hundreds of Islamic State group fighters captured in Syria.

Trump said late Saturday that the United States was asking Britain and other European allies "to take back over 800 ISIS fighters that we captured in Syria and put them on trial."

The demand came as he prepared to declare the end of the group's so-called "caliphate", with US-led Arab and Kurdish forces close to capturing its last territorial holdout in Syria, ahead of a pull-out of American troops.

The prospect has increased concerns about experienced militants and foreign fighters escaping and forming new cells in Syria or beyond, with US allies grappling for weeks with how to respond.

Britain's Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright, a former attorney general -- the country's chief legal adviser -- told the BBC Sunday that it was "obliged, at some stage at least, to take them back".

Noting it was "a matter of international law and domestic law", he said: "It doesn't mean either that we can't seek to hold them to account for their behaviour thus far."

However, writing in The Sunday Times -- under the headline "if you run away to join ISIS, I will use all my power to stop you coming back" -- Javid insisted the government should strip "dangerous individuals of their British citizenship".

He noted Britain had already exercised this power more than 100 times.

"In considering what actions need to be taken now, I have to think about the safety and security of children living in our country," he wrote.

A runaway teenager who has divided British opinion after joining the Islamic State group in Syria but now wants to return home has given birth, her family said on Sunday.

A runaway teenager who has divided British opinion after joining the Islamic State group in Syria but now wants to return home has given birth, her family said on Sunday. Shamima Begum, whose fate has prompted British soul-searching since she and two friends stirred controversy by fleeing to the terror network in 2015, gave birth to a boy, according to family lawyer Mohammed Akunjee. "We, the family of Shamima Begum, have been informed that Shamima has given birth to her child," a statement he released on Twitter said. "We understand that both she and the baby are in good health. "As yet we have not had direct contact with Shamima, we are hoping to establish communications with her soon so that we can verify the above." Akunjee told AFP the family had learned about the birth from a translator in an eastern Syria refugee camp where Begum is currently staying. Begum had previously given birth to two other children, but both died during her time in Syria, she told The Times earlier this week. Her case has highlighted the challenge for Western governments of dealing with returning jihadist supporters, after she told the newspaper that she wanted to raise her new baby in Britain. The 19-year-old has expressed no regrets about joining the group and leading politicians, including interior minister Sajid Javid, have said they will try to stop her return. Akunjee said Sunday Javid was "misunderstanding the law" and that Britain had a responsibility towards Begum and her newborn child. "A parent has responsibility and so does Britain," he added. Mixed response The fresh focus on the case came as Britain's government appeared divided on how to respond to demands from US President Donald Trump that European nations take back hundreds of Islamic State group fighters captured in Syria. Trump said late Saturday that the United States was asking Britain and other European allies "to take back over 800 ISIS fighters that we captured in Syria and put them on trial." The demand came as he prepared to declare the end of the group's so-called "caliphate", with US-led Arab and Kurdish forces close to capturing its last territorial holdout in Syria, ahead of a pull-out of American troops. The prospect has increased concerns about experienced militants and foreign fighters escaping and forming new cells in Syria or beyond, with US allies grappling for weeks with how to respond. Britain's Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright, a former attorney general -- the country's chief legal adviser -- told the BBC Sunday that it was "obliged, at some stage at least, to take them back". Noting it was "a matter of international law and domestic law", he said: "It doesn't mean either that we can't seek to hold them to account for their behaviour thus far." However, writing in The Sunday Times -- under the headline "if you run away to join ISIS, I will use all my power to stop you coming back" -- Javid insisted the government should strip "dangerous individuals of their British citizenship". He noted Britain had already exercised this power more than 100 times. "In considering what actions need to be taken now, I have to think about the safety and security of children living in our country," he wrote.

UK teen who joined IS has given birth in Syria: Family

US-backed fighters in Syria are poised to capture <a href="NEAR BAGHOUZ, Syria (Reuters) - U.S.-backed fighters in Syria are poised to capture Islamic State's last, tiny enclave on the Euphrates, the battle commander said on Saturday, bringing its self-declared caliphate to the brink of total defeat. Jiya Furat said the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had cornered the remaining militants in a neighbourhood of Baghouz village near the Iraqi border, under fire from all sides. &quot;In the coming few days, in a very short time, we will spread the good tidings to the world of the military end of Daesh,&quot; he said, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State. He was speaking after U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday there would be &quot;great announcements&quot; about Syria over the next 24 hours. Trump has sworn to pull U.S. forces from Syria after Islamic State's territorial defeat, raising questions over the fate of Washington's Kurdish allies and Turkish involvement in northeast Syria. As the SDF advanced under heavy U.S. airstrikes in recent days, a stream of civilians fled the few square miles of hamlets and farmland that remain within Islamic State's 'caliphate', along with defeated jihadists trying to escape unnoticed. Though Islamic State fighters still hold out in a pocket of central Syria's remote desert, and have gone underground as sleeper cells in Iraqi cities, able to launch new attacks, their territorial rule is, for now, almost over. It ends a project launched from the great mediaeval mosque of Mosul in northern Iraq in 2014, when Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi seized advantage of regional chaos to proclaim himself caliph, suzerain over all Muslim people and land. He set up a governing system with courts, a currency and flag that at its height stretched from northwest Syria almost to Baghdad, encompassing some two million inhabitants. HUMAN SHIELDS But its reign of terror over minorities and other perceived enemies, marked by massacres, sexual slavery and the beheading of hostages, drew a forceful international military response that pushed it steadily back from 2015. M">Islamic State's last, tiny enclave on the Euphrates</a>, the battle commander said on Saturday, bringing its self-declared caliphate to the brink of total defeat.

Jiya Furat said the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had cornered the remaining militants in a neighbourhood of Baghouz village near the Iraqi border, under fire from all sides.

"In the coming few days, in a very short time, we will spread the good tidings to the world of the military end of Daesh," he said, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

He was speaking after US President Donald Trump said on Friday there would be "great announcements" about Syria over the next 24 hours.

Trump has sworn to pull US forces from Syria after Islamic State's territorial defeat, raising questions over the fate of Washington's Kurdish allies and Turkish involvement in northeast Syria.

As the SDF advanced under heavy US airstrikes in recent days, a stream of civilians fled the few square miles of hamlets and farmland that remain within Islamic State's 'caliphate', along with defeated jihadists trying to escape unnoticed.

Though Islamic State fighters still hold out in a pocket of central Syria's remote desert and have gone underground as sleeper cells in Iraqi cities, able to launch new attacks, their territorial rule is, for now, almost over.

It ends a project launched from the great mediaeval mosque of Mosul in northern Iraq in 2014 when Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi seized advantage of regional chaos to proclaim himself caliph, suzerain overall Muslim people and land.

He set up a governing system with courts, currency and flag that at its height stretched from northwest Syria almost to Baghdad, encompassing some two million inhabitants.

Human shields

But its reign of terror over minorities and other perceived enemies, marked by massacres, sexual slavery and the beheading of hostages, drew a forceful international military response that pushed it steadily back from 2015.

Most of the fighters left in Baghouz are foreigners, the SDF has said, among the thousands drawn by Baghdadi's promise of a new jihadist utopia straddling the Iraqi-Syrian border and expunging national borders.

All that remains, said Furat, is an encircled pocket some 700 metres square. "Thousands of civilians are still trapped there as human shields," he said.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the SDF had taken control of all of Baghouz after the jihadists there surrendered. SDF officials denied this.

Spokesman Mustafa Bali said the SDF had caught several militants trying to flee among the civilians. Others had handed themselves over.

Their fate and that of their families has befuddled foreign governments, with few ready to repatriate citizens who pledged allegiance to a group sworn to their destruction, but who might be hard to legally prosecute. The SDF does not want to hold them indefinitely.

The fate of Baghdadi is also a mystery. He has led the group since 2010 when it was still an underground al-Qaeda offshoot in Iraq.

Still a threat

Its capacity then for strategic retreats in hard times, followed by rebounds when circumstances changed, has prompted numerous warnings that Islamic State's defeat has not ended the threat it poses to the region.

Islamic State suffered crippling defeats in 2017 when Iraq recaptured Mosul, the SDF seized its Syrian capital of Raqqa, and the Damascus government pushed it east to the Euphrates.

But in Iraq it has switched to guerrilla hit-and-run tactics, aimed at undermining the Baghdad government. It has also claimed responsibility for a series of bombings in swathes of northeast Syria held by the SDF, including one last month that killed four Americans.

That attack came soon after Trump pledged to pull out, saying Islamic State was already defeated, rattling allies and prompting defence secretary Jim Mattis to resign.

Turkey, which regards the SDF's strongest component, the Kurdish YPG, as terrorists, has threatened to march deeper into northern Syria to drive it back.

On Friday U.S. Army General Joseph Votel, who oversees US forces in the Middle East as head of Central Command, said the end of the territorial caliphate would lead to a more dispersed, harder-to-detect network of fighters waging guerrilla warfare.

That should require continued help from Washington, he said.

US-backed fighters in Syria are poised to capture Islamic State's last, tiny enclave on the Euphrates, the battle commander said on Saturday, bringing its self-declared caliphate to the brink of total defeat.

US-backed fighters in Syria are poised to capture Islamic State's last, tiny enclave on the Euphrates, the battle commander said on Saturday, bringing its self-declared caliphate to the brink of total defeat. Jiya Furat said the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had cornered the remaining militants in a neighbourhood of Baghouz village near the Iraqi border, under fire from all sides. "In the coming few days, in a very short time, we will spread the good tidings to the world of the military end of Daesh," he said, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State. He was speaking after US President Donald Trump said on Friday there would be "great announcements" about Syria over the next 24 hours. Trump has sworn to pull US forces from Syria after Islamic State's territorial defeat, raising questions over the fate of Washington's Kurdish allies and Turkish involvement in northeast Syria. As the SDF advanced under heavy US airstrikes in recent days, a stream of civilians fled the few square miles of hamlets and farmland that remain within Islamic State's 'caliphate', along with defeated jihadists trying to escape unnoticed. Though Islamic State fighters still hold out in a pocket of central Syria's remote desert and have gone underground as sleeper cells in Iraqi cities, able to launch new attacks, their territorial rule is, for now, almost over. It ends a project launched from the great mediaeval mosque of Mosul in northern Iraq in 2014 when Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi seized advantage of regional chaos to proclaim himself caliph, suzerain overall Muslim people and land. He set up a governing system with courts, currency and flag that at its height stretched from northwest Syria almost to Baghdad, encompassing some two million inhabitants. Human shields But its reign of terror over minorities and other perceived enemies, marked by massacres, sexual slavery and the beheading of hostages, drew a forceful international military response that pushed it steadily back from 2015. Most of the fighters left in Baghouz are foreigners, the SDF has said, among the thousands drawn by Baghdadi's promise of a new jihadist utopia straddling the Iraqi-Syrian border and expunging national borders. All that remains, said Furat, is an encircled pocket some 700 metres square. "Thousands of civilians are still trapped there as human shields," he said. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the SDF had taken control of all of Baghouz after the jihadists there surrendered. SDF officials denied this. Spokesman Mustafa Bali said the SDF had caught several militants trying to flee among the civilians. Others had handed themselves over. Their fate and that of their families has befuddled foreign governments, with few ready to repatriate citizens who pledged allegiance to a group sworn to their destruction, but who might be hard to legally prosecute. The SDF does not want to hold them indefinitely. The fate of Baghdadi is also a mystery. He has led the group since 2010 when it was still an underground al-Qaeda offshoot in Iraq. Still a threat Its capacity then for strategic retreats in hard times, followed by rebounds when circumstances changed, has prompted numerous warnings that Islamic State's defeat has not ended the threat it poses to the region. Islamic State suffered crippling defeats in 2017 when Iraq recaptured Mosul, the SDF seized its Syrian capital of Raqqa, and the Damascus government pushed it east to the Euphrates. But in Iraq it has switched to guerrilla hit-and-run tactics, aimed at undermining the Baghdad government. It has also claimed responsibility for a series of bombings in swathes of northeast Syria held by the SDF, including one last month that killed four Americans. That attack came soon after Trump pledged to pull out, saying Islamic State was already defeated, rattling allies and prompting defence secretary Jim Mattis to resign. Turkey, which regards the SDF's strongest component, the Kurdish YPG, as terrorists, has threatened to march deeper into northern Syria to drive it back. On Friday U.S. Army General Joseph Votel, who oversees US forces in the Middle East as head of Central Command, said the end of the territorial caliphate would lead to a more dispersed, harder-to-detect network of fighters waging guerrilla warfare. That should require continued help from Washington, he said.

Last Islamic State 'caliphate' on brink of defeat in east Syria

A pregnant London schoolgirl's wish to return home after joining the Islamic State group in Syria splintered Britain on Friday as reports emerged of more UK women fleeing the war zone.

Shamima Begum's fate has prompted soul searching in Britain since she and two friends created international headlines by running away to join the terror network in 2015.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid told The Times newspaper that people like Begum "were full of hate for our country".

"My message is clear -- if you have supported terrorist organisations abroad I will not hesitate to prevent your return," he said.

However, Alex Younger, the head of Britain's foreign intelligence agency, MI6, said that being a British national she had the right to return but could expect possible prosecution if she did so.

Quoted by British media at the Munich Security Conference, Younger said he was "very concerned" about returning British nationals who had fought for or supported IS.

"All experience tells us that once someone's put themselves in that sort of position they are likely to have acquired both the skills and connections that make them potentially very dangerous," he added.

Younger also warned that IS was "a resilient organisation" even though it had lost the territory it controlled in Iraq and Syria.

"It is reorganising, returning to its natural state as an asymmetric transnational terrorist organisation. We see it morphing, spreading out," he was quoted as saying.

'No entry'&nbsp;

The girls' decision to join the IS group created initial resentment and disbelief in a country that has been a frequent target of bloody strikes linked to jihadists.

Their fate was uncertain until The Times newspaper managed to find an unrepentant Begum -- now 19 and about to give birth for the third time after seeing her first two children die -- at a refugee camp in eastern Syria.

"I just could not endure any more," she told the paper.

"I fled the caliphate. Now all I want to do is come home to Britain."

Former MI6 chief Richard Barrett argued on Begum's behalf in an opinion piece for the left-leaning Guardian paper.

"Like it or not, these individuals were products of our society, and it would make sense to take a good, hard look at why they turned their backs on it in such dramatic fashion," Barrett wrote.

But right-leaning newspapers called on the authorities to keep Begum out.

"No regret. No remorse. No entry," The Sun tabloid declared on its front page.

The government does not have the power to ban Begum because she still has a British passport and has not been convicted of a crime.

But authorities could prosecute her or issue a special security notice that would see her detained on arrival at a UK airport.

'Had no choice'&nbsp;

Mohammed Rahman, whose brother is married to Begum's sister, and other relatives of the surviving teens pleaded for mercy.

"I can understand why people in this country are angry and don't want her back," Rahman told The Times.

"But she was only 15 when she went to Syria. We are appealing for compassion and understanding on her behalf."

Begum fled together with two friends: Kadiza Sultana and Amira Abase.

Sultana has since been reported killed. Begum said Abase stayed in a village where IS fighters are making a final stand against US-backed fighters.

Abase's father Hussen asked for forgiveness for the teens.

"They should be allowed to learn from their mistakes," he told The Daily Telegraph.

"They are no threat to us."

The Telegraph reported from eastern Syria that seven British women and 15 of their children are believed to have fled Baghouz -- the village where IS fighters are located -- for two refugee camps.

The paper spoke to two British women at the camps who wanted to return.

A mother-of-four from London named Nassima Begum -- no relation to Shamima Begum -- said she "had no choice but to follow" her husband's decision to leave.

"Some of the women here believe in (IS). I can promise you I am not one of them," she said.

But another Londoner named Reema Iqbal was more reserved.

"The security services came to speak to me and I was honest, I told them my whole story so now it's up to them to judge," Iqbal said.

A pregnant London schoolgirl's wish to return home after joining the Islamic State group in Syria splintered Britain on Friday as reports emerged of more UK women fleeing the war zone.

A pregnant London schoolgirl's wish to return home after joining the Islamic State group in Syria splintered Britain on Friday as reports emerged of more UK women fleeing the war zone. Shamima Begum's fate has prompted soul searching in Britain since she and two friends created international headlines by running away to join the terror network in 2015. Home Secretary Sajid Javid told The Times newspaper that people like Begum "were full of hate for our country". "My message is clear -- if you have supported terrorist organisations abroad I will not hesitate to prevent your return," he said. However, Alex Younger, the head of Britain's foreign intelligence agency, MI6, said that being a British national she had the right to return but could expect possible prosecution if she did so. Quoted by British media at the Munich Security Conference, Younger said he was "very concerned" about returning British nationals who had fought for or supported IS. "All experience tells us that once someone's put themselves in that sort of position they are likely to have acquired both the skills and connections that make them potentially very dangerous," he added. Younger also warned that IS was "a resilient organisation" even though it had lost the territory it controlled in Iraq and Syria. "It is reorganising, returning to its natural state as an asymmetric transnational terrorist organisation. We see it morphing, spreading out," he was quoted as saying. 'No entry' The girls' decision to join the IS group created initial resentment and disbelief in a country that has been a frequent target of bloody strikes linked to jihadists. Their fate was uncertain until The Times newspaper managed to find an unrepentant Begum -- now 19 and about to give birth for the third time after seeing her first two children die -- at a refugee camp in eastern Syria. "I just could not endure any more," she told the paper. "I fled the caliphate. Now all I want to do is come home to Britain." Former MI6 chief Richard Barrett argued on Begum's behalf in an opinion piece for the left-leaning Guardian paper. "Like it or not, these individuals were products of our society, and it would make sense to take a good, hard look at why they turned their backs on it in such dramatic fashion," Barrett wrote. But right-leaning newspapers called on the authorities to keep Begum out. "No regret. No remorse. No entry," The Sun tabloid declared on its front page. The government does not have the power to ban Begum because she still has a British passport and has not been convicted of a crime. But authorities could prosecute her or issue a special security notice that would see her detained on arrival at a UK airport. 'Had no choice' Mohammed Rahman, whose brother is married to Begum's sister, and other relatives of the surviving teens pleaded for mercy. "I can understand why people in this country are angry and don't want her back," Rahman told The Times. "But she was only 15 when she went to Syria. We are appealing for compassion and understanding on her behalf." Begum fled together with two friends: Kadiza Sultana and Amira Abase. Sultana has since been reported killed. Begum said Abase stayed in a village where IS fighters are making a final stand against US-backed fighters. Abase's father Hussen asked for forgiveness for the teens. "They should be allowed to learn from their mistakes," he told The Daily Telegraph. "They are no threat to us." The Telegraph reported from eastern Syria that seven British women and 15 of their children are believed to have fled Baghouz -- the village where IS fighters are located -- for two refugee camps. The paper spoke to two British women at the camps who wanted to return. A mother-of-four from London named Nassima Begum -- no relation to Shamima Begum -- said she "had no choice but to follow" her husband's decision to leave. "Some of the women here believe in (IS). I can promise you I am not one of them," she said. But another Londoner named Reema Iqbal was more reserved. "The security services came to speak to me and I was honest, I told them my whole story so now it's up to them to judge," Iqbal said.

Islamic State pregnant teen's wish to return stirs UK debate over jihadi brides

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-declares-us-mexico-border-emergency-democrats-protest-197678">US President Donald Trump</a> made the case on Friday that he deserves to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on North Korea and Syria, but complained he probably would never get the honour.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-promises-announcement-on-is-caliphate-within-24-hours-197673">Trump, a Republican</a>, capped off a rambling Rose Garden news conference with a well-oiled gripe that former Democratic President Barack Obama, a nemesis, won the Nobel Prize in 2009, just months into his first term in office.

"They gave it to Obama. He didn't even know what he got it for. He was there for about 15 seconds and he got the Nobel Prize. He said, 'Oh, what did I get it for?'" Trump grumbled.

"With me, I probably will never get it."

Trump claimed he saved 3 million people living in Syria's rebel-held Idlib region from being killed after he warned Russia, Iran and the Syrian government against a planned offensive.

"Nobody talks about that," he complained.

Attacks on the Idlib region have continued, though Trump said the strikes are done "surgically."

He said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had given him "the most beautiful copy" of a five-page letter in which Abe nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize for opening talks and easing tensions with North Korea.

"You know why? Because he had rocket ships and he had missiles flying over Japan," Trump said. "Now, all of a sudden, they feel good. They feel safe. I did that," Trump said, adding that the Obama administration "couldn't have done it."The White House declined further comment on Trump's claim that Abe had nominated him, and a spokesman for the Japanese embassy said he had no information about such a letter.

"Many other people feel that way, too. I'll probably never get it. But that's OK," Trump said.

Last April, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Trump deserved the Nobel for his efforts to negotiate an end to North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

Trump will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi on Feb. 27-28 for a second summit on the nuclear issue. Trump says their first meeting in Singapore last June was a triumph but critics said it delivered no progress on denuclearisation.

Trump praised himself on Friday for establishing a good relationship with Kim. "I like him a lot and he likes me a lot."

And he fondly recalled his original hardline approach to the reclusive leader, regaling reporters with some of his favourite bellicose lines.

"It was a very tough dialogue at the beginning: 'Fire and fury.' 'Total annihilation.' 'My button is bigger than yours,' and 'My button works.' Remember that? You don't remember that. And people said, 'Trump is crazy.''

US President Donald Trump made the case on Friday that he deserves to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on North Korea and Syria, but complained he probably would never get the honour.

US President Donald Trump made the case on Friday that he deserves to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on North Korea and Syria, but complained he probably would never get the honour. Trump, a Republican, capped off a rambling Rose Garden news conference with a well-oiled gripe that former Democratic President Barack Obama, a nemesis, won the Nobel Prize in 2009, just months into his first term in office. "They gave it to Obama. He didn't even know what he got it for. He was there for about 15 seconds and he got the Nobel Prize. He said, 'Oh, what did I get it for?'" Trump grumbled. "With me, I probably will never get it." Trump claimed he saved 3 million people living in Syria's rebel-held Idlib region from being killed after he warned Russia, Iran and the Syrian government against a planned offensive. "Nobody talks about that," he complained. Attacks on the Idlib region have continued, though Trump said the strikes are done "surgically." He said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had given him "the most beautiful copy" of a five-page letter in which Abe nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize for opening talks and easing tensions with North Korea. "You know why? Because he had rocket ships and he had missiles flying over Japan," Trump said. "Now, all of a sudden, they feel good. They feel safe. I did that," Trump said, adding that the Obama administration "couldn't have done it."The White House declined further comment on Trump's claim that Abe had nominated him, and a spokesman for the Japanese embassy said he had no information about such a letter. "Many other people feel that way, too. I'll probably never get it. But that's OK," Trump said. Last April, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Trump deserved the Nobel for his efforts to negotiate an end to North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Trump will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi on Feb. 27-28 for a second summit on the nuclear issue. Trump says their first meeting in Singapore last June was a triumph but critics said it delivered no progress on denuclearisation. Trump praised himself on Friday for establishing a good relationship with Kim. "I like him a lot and he likes me a lot." And he fondly recalled his original hardline approach to the reclusive leader, regaling reporters with some of his favourite bellicose lines. "It was a very tough dialogue at the beginning: 'Fire and fury.' 'Total annihilation.' 'My button is bigger than yours,' and 'My button works.' Remember that? You don't remember that. And people said, 'Trump is crazy.''

Trump makes his case for Nobel Peace Prize, complains he'll never get it

Russia and Syria have said they are going to open two humanitarian corridors to evacuate refugees from a hard-to-reach camp in the desert near the country’s southern border with Jordan, an area that is nominally controlled by the United States, the two countries said in a joint statement published Saturday.

The refugees of the Rukban camp should be able to access the corridors through checkpoints that would be set up in the settlements of Jleighem and Jebel al-Gurab starting February 19, according to the statement issued by the Joint Coordination Committees on repatriation of Syrian refugees of the Russian Federation and the Syrian Arab Republic.

The humanitarian corridor would allow "Syrian refugees to leave voluntarily, freely and safely for places of residence they choose," the statement said.

During its 24-hour operations, the corridors would also permit refugees to receive food, clothes and medical attention, including vaccines, according to the statement.

Syrian security forces are set to guarantee the safety of the evacuated refugees in cooperation with detachments of the Russian Army military police.

The statement accused the US of illegally occupying 55 kilometers (34 miles) adjacent to the US-led international coalition's base of Al-Tanf in southeast Syria, as well as blocking the humanitarian aid distribution.

The arrival of the first humanitarian convoy belonging to the United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent to the camp on Feb. 6 was a provisional measure, according to the statement.

However, it denounced that large part of the first convoy aid did not reach its destination, adding that it ended up in hands of armed groups backed by the US.

The situation in the camp, the statement condemned, continues to deteriorate due to a lack of water and basic services, as well as prostitution and sexual abuse of minors.

The statement urged the UN to take part in the humanitarian operation and press the US "to show goodwill in the interests of the suffering people of Syria."

Russia has previously denounced that over 6,000 of the Syria rebel group of Jaysh Maghawir al-Thawra (which means Revolutionary Commando Army), "controlled by the US" are infiltrated among 50,000 refugees who live at the camp of Rukban and held them hostages.

Jordan blocks entry to the camp through its territory since 2016 in the wake of an attack that the Islamic State terror group claimed and killed seven Jordanian soldiers.

Humanitarian organisations denounced the tough living conditions at the camp, adding that they barely had access to the camp due to a Jordanian army ban.

Russia and Syria have said they are going to open two humanitarian corridors to evacuate refugees from a hard-to-reach camp in the desert near the country’s southern border with Jordan, an area that is nominally controlled by the United States, the two countries said in a joint statement published Saturday.

Russia and Syria have said they are going to open two humanitarian corridors to evacuate refugees from a hard-to-reach camp in the desert near the country’s southern border with Jordan, an area that is nominally controlled by the United States, the two countries said in a joint statement published Saturday. The refugees of the Rukban camp should be able to access the corridors through checkpoints that would be set up in the settlements of Jleighem and Jebel al-Gurab starting February 19, according to the statement issued by the Joint Coordination Committees on repatriation of Syrian refugees of the Russian Federation and the Syrian Arab Republic. The humanitarian corridor would allow "Syrian refugees to leave voluntarily, freely and safely for places of residence they choose," the statement said. During its 24-hour operations, the corridors would also permit refugees to receive food, clothes and medical attention, including vaccines, according to the statement. Syrian security forces are set to guarantee the safety of the evacuated refugees in cooperation with detachments of the Russian Army military police. The statement accused the US of illegally occupying 55 kilometers (34 miles) adjacent to the US-led international coalition's base of Al-Tanf in southeast Syria, as well as blocking the humanitarian aid distribution. The arrival of the first humanitarian convoy belonging to the United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent to the camp on Feb. 6 was a provisional measure, according to the statement. However, it denounced that large part of the first convoy aid did not reach its destination, adding that it ended up in hands of armed groups backed by the US. The situation in the camp, the statement condemned, continues to deteriorate due to a lack of water and basic services, as well as prostitution and sexual abuse of minors. The statement urged the UN to take part in the humanitarian operation and press the US "to show goodwill in the interests of the suffering people of Syria." Russia has previously denounced that over 6,000 of the Syria rebel group of Jaysh Maghawir al-Thawra (which means Revolutionary Commando Army), "controlled by the US" are infiltrated among 50,000 refugees who live at the camp of Rukban and held them hostages. Jordan blocks entry to the camp through its territory since 2016 in the wake of an attack that the Islamic State terror group claimed and killed seven Jordanian soldiers. Humanitarian organisations denounced the tough living conditions at the camp, adding that they barely had access to the camp due to a Jordanian army ban.

Russia, Syria to open 2 corridors to evacuate refugees from Rukban camp

President Donald Trump on Friday said the United States would be announcing the end of the Islamic State group's once-sprawling "caliphate" within the next day.

"We have a lot of great announcements having to do with Syria and our success with the eradication of the caliphate and that will be announced over the next 24 hours," Trump told reporters at the White House Friday.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces have been closing in on holdout jihadists since September last year and a few hundred surviving IS members are now boxed into an area of around one square kilometer (less than half a square mile).

The "caliphate" IS supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed in mid-2014 once spanned territory the size of the United Kingdom and administered millions of people.

But successive offensives in Iraq and Syria have shattered the proto-state, which lost its key cities one after the other and has since late 2017 been confined to its traditional power base in the Euphrates valley.

The expected announcement comes after Trump shocked allies and senior figures in his own administration by announcing in December the US was carrying out a full troop withdrawal from Syria.

The plan, which prompted the resignation of then defense secretary Jim Mattis, could be sped up following the declaration of victory.&nbsp;

President Donald Trump on Friday said the United States would be announcing the end of the Islamic State group's once-sprawling "caliphate" within the next day. "We have a lot of great announcements having to do with Syria and our success with the eradication of the caliphate and that will be announced over the next 24 hours," Trump told reporters at the White House Friday.

President Donald Trump on Friday said the United States would be announcing the end of the Islamic State group's once-sprawling "caliphate" within the next day. "We have a lot of great announcements having to do with Syria and our success with the eradication of the caliphate and that will be announced over the next 24 hours," Trump told reporters at the White House Friday. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces have been closing in on holdout jihadists since September last year and a few hundred surviving IS members are now boxed into an area of around one square kilometer (less than half a square mile). The "caliphate" IS supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed in mid-2014 once spanned territory the size of the United Kingdom and administered millions of people. But successive offensives in Iraq and Syria have shattered the proto-state, which lost its key cities one after the other and has since late 2017 been confined to its traditional power base in the Euphrates valley. The expected announcement comes after Trump shocked allies and senior figures in his own administration by announcing in December the US was carrying out a full troop withdrawal from Syria. The plan, which prompted the resignation of then defense secretary Jim Mattis, could be sped up following the declaration of victory.

Trump promises announcement on IS 'caliphate' within '24 hours'

syria

Syria, News on Syria, stories on Syria, articles on Syria, Syria stories at Wion, Syria news, Syria latest news