Iraqi official urges Australia to take back alleged IS fighters

Iraq’s national security adviser, Qassim al-Araji, pressed Australia to repatriate a group of suspected Islamic State fighters during a meeting with ambassador Glenn Miles in Baghdad, weeks after detainees were moved out of Syria. Al-Araji posted a photo of the meeting on X and said foreign detainees should be returned to their home countries.

Iraq’s National Center for International Judicial Cooperation says it has taken custody of 5,704 alleged former fighters from 61 countries; about 13 Australian men are among them, including one who was a child when trafficked into IS territory. Al-Araji said the discussions stressed the need to intensify international efforts to halt the war and prevent its further expansion, and to reduce tensions through constructive dialogue and the rebuilding of trust.

He renewed Iraq’s call on the international community to receive its nationals who were recently transferred from Syria to Iraqi prisons. Miles made no mention of the meeting on his X account.

Iraq, Baghdad

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