How many Americans does the FBI believe are fighting with Islamic State in Syria?

Question

Accepted Answer

The FBI estimates approximately a dozen Americans are fighting with the Islamic State in Syria.

US authorities are tracking close to 150 Americans who are believed to have travelled to Syria. A federal official indicated that the FBI's current assessment suggests about a dozen American citizens are actively engaged in combat with the Islamic State group within Syria. This concern extends to individuals from the Minneapolis area, which hosts a significant Somali expatriate community.
Efforts to Combat Travel to Syria

The US Attorney's office has initiated charges against individuals attempting to travel to Syria to join militant groups. A recent case involved a 20-year-old Minnesota woman, Yusra Ismail, who was charged with passport theft to facilitate her travel. The criminal complaint alleged she used a stolen US passport to fly to Amsterdam and Norway in August, subsequently informing her family she was in "Sham," a term associated with Islamic State-controlled territory.
Tracking Individuals of Somali Ancestry

Authorities have been monitoring the travel of young Somali-Americans from the Minneapolis area to join militant organisations. This follows previous cases, including one from the previous week where two Minnesota men of Somali ancestry, aged 18 and 20, were charged with supporting the Islamic State. The FBI began tracking a noticeable trend of Somali-Americans from the Twin Cities region travelling to Syria, particularly to areas under Islamic State control, during the summer.
Broader Concerns Regarding Foreign Fighters

The FBI's tracking of Americans travelling to Syria reflects a broader national security concern regarding foreign fighters. FBI Director James Comey stated last month that his agency was monitoring approximately 150 Americans suspected of having journeyed to Syria. The case of Yusra Ismail highlights the methods used by individuals to attempt travel, including the alleged use of stolen passports, and the subsequent communication indicating their location within conflict zones.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

How many Americans does the FBI believe are fighting with Islamic State in Syria?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends