Some American IS recruits are back in US: White House

Image
IANS
Last Updated : Sep 23 2014 | 3:20 AM IST

Washington, Sep 23 (IANS/EFE) The Obama administration believes that some of the roughly 100 Americans who may have travelled to the Middle East to join the ranks of the Islamic State (IS) militant group have returned to the United States, a top White House official said Monday.

The US administration calculates that 2,000 Europeans are among the 15,000 foreign combatants in IS ranks, Efe quoted an official as saying.

The figure of 100 Americans "includes those who have gone, those who have tried to go, some who have come back and who are under active - the FBI is looking at them", said the source, according to TIME magazine's online edition.

The United States and Europe are concerned about the possibility that those foreign combatants are using their passports -- once they return to their countries of origin -- to travel and organise attacks in the West.

On Wednesday, President Barack Obama will head a special meeting of the heads of state and government at the UN Security Council that will focus on the threat posed by those individuals.

The United States has already circulated, with an eye toward that gathering, a draft resolution including measures designed to contain the flow of foreign combatants and the White House forecasts that it will be unanimously.

--IANS/EFE

pv/

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Sep 23 2014 | 3:12 AM IST

Next Story