PRISTINA: Kosovo and North Macedonia repatriated 34 of their citizens from Syria including men suspected of fighting for Daesh, government officials said on Monday.
Since the March 2019 fall of the group’s last stronghold in Syria, local Kurds have been calling for the repatriation of thousands of foreign women and children of extremists they hold in overcrowded camps.
But most countries are reluctant to take back their citizens.
North Macedonia estimates 156 citizens went to fight alongside the extremists, with more than 80 having returned.
Experts say around 400 people from Kosovo joined extremists in Iraq and Syria, police saying more than half have returned.
“These returns demonstrate Kosovo’s willingness to take responsibility for its citizens while setting an example for others,” the American Embassy in Pristina said on Twitter.
Six men, one woman and four children arrived in Kosovo on Saturday “with the help of the US,” the police ministry’s Xhelal Svecla said. North Macedonia’s government said in a statement that four men, five women and fourteen children had returned.
The four men have been detained and would be prosecuted for fighting with foreign units, the statement said. The women and children would be placed in a 14-day quarantine for medical checks while the authorities investigate if they were involved in any crimes.
“If no proof for crimes is found, then on their own will they will be included in the process of rehabilitation, resocialization and reintegration,” the Macedonian government added.
In Kosovo, all seven adults in the group, including one woman, suspected of “having gone to the conflict zone” have been detained for 48 hours due to their investigation, said police official Samedin Mehmeti.
Kosovo repatriates citizens from Syria camps
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Kosovo repatriates citizens from Syria camps
- Experts say around 400 people from Kosovo joined extremists in Iraq and Syria, police saying more than half have returned
Syrian authorities arrest 3 members of pro-Assad armed group in Hama
- The group is accused of engaging in incitement against the state to undermine security and stability
- 30 people targeted by separate operation in Tartus, including what security forces describe as remnants of the Assad regime, instigators and outlaws
LONDON: Syrian authorities in Hama have arrested three people accused of involvement in an armed group linked to remnants of the deposed regime of the former president, Bashar Assad.
The Internal Security Command in Al-Ghab, central Syria, said on Wednesday that the group had engaged in incitement against the state with the aim of undermining security and stability.
Brig. Gen. Mulham Al-Shantout, commander of internal security in Hama, said the operation that led to the arrests was carried out in coordination with counterterrorism authorities.
About 30 people were targeted as part of a separate operation in Tartus, the Internal Security Command said, including what it described as remnants of the Assad regime, instigators and outlaws. One individual was killed during armed clashes with members of the security forces, three of whom were injured, and a cache of weapons and ammunition was seized in the coastal city.
Authorities said they remain strongly committed to protecting citizens, maintaining civil peace and enforcing the law against anyone who jeopardizes the security and stability of the country, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported.
