Thread by @benrileysmith

EXC: Britain + Europe risk Isil attacks on home soil unless they prosecute fighters from their own countries, America is warning.

Senior US officials fear some of the 800 detained johadists will soon be free unless allies put them on trial.

Full story: telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/02/1…

There is palpable frustration in the Trump administration at UK refusing to prosecute captured Isil fighters who come from Britain.

One well-placed US source said the UK stance was effectively “leave them at large and hope they don’t find a way back”.

US officials believe time is running out. The caliphate will be defeated any moment now. That is the cue for Trump to claim victory and withdraw troops. They could be out of Syria by April, just 7 weeks away.

US also has fears that Isil fighters could use Europe’s visa waiver scheme to fly into America itself.

Watch lists should block terror suspects boarding planes but system not “foolproof”. Was explicitly mentioned to me as an area of concern.

Britain’s pushback is basically they want Isil fighters to face justice but in Middle East. And there are doubts about whether they could secure successful prosecutions at home.

Also, unsaid - this problem is partly of America’s making by insisting on such a speedy withdrawal.

Bottom line - 800+ Isil fighters are detained in Syria with no real plan for bringing them to justice.

US is leaving and telling Europe to deal with it. Europe largely refusing and asking why US is leaving.

All will come to a head soon if US withdrawal is as quick as expected

*jihadists 🤦‍♂️