Syrian Kurdish forces catch Swedish IS fighters in Raqqa

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – A Swedish radio has claimed the US-backed Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) are holding a group of Islamic State (IS) foreign fighters from Sweden.

The Ekot news program on Tuesday said the YPG, which is spearheading the Syrian Democratic Forces’ (SDF) offensive to liberate Raqqa, is holding a group of IS fighters from various countries.

Ekot didn’t provide details on how many militants from Sweden are being held.

Tuesday’s report comes as the US-backed forces make progress in Raqqa, IS’ de facto capital in Syria.

Sweden’s security service, known by its initials SAPO, has said up to 300 people from Sweden have joined radical Muslims in the past six years.

There was no immediate comment from the Swedish Foreign Ministry.

As the militant group is squeezed in Iraq and Syria, several foreign fighters have been captured by local forces, including a 16-year-old German girl who was found in a tunnel in Mosul.

Linda Wenzel, who was apprehended in the ruins of the city by Iraqi special forces in mid-July, is believed to have been part of the al-Khansa Brigade, a group that enforced IS’ severe Islamic code.

Meanwhile, international police agency Interpol recently identified a list of 173 IS foreign fighters planning attacks in Europe.

Interpol said it feared the militants, “operating alone” in Europe, are seeking revenge as IS collapses in the Middle East.

The list, along with identification cards for each militant, was sent to EU intelligence sources to determine if they “have any details on the individuals.”

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany