French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said, during a press conference in Paris, that some 700 French nationals are currently in war zones in Iraq and in Syria, posing a significant threat to French national security once their return to the European state. “We have in front of us a considerable challenge, when almost 700 French jihadists or French residents are currently in war zones, in Iraq and in Syria. Their return represents an extra threat for our national security,” said Valls.
The French Prime Minister also revealed that according to the French intelligence services, some 900 French nationals still seek to go to Syria or Iraq to join the Islamic State, while stressing that this phenomenon was true to other EU member state as well. “I remind you that 191 French nationals or French residents died, that 900, according to our intelligence services, want to go. Other countries know this phenomenon,” continued the French leader.
The phenomenon of Muslims from Western countries seeking to join the Islamic State is far from eradicated, even though the extreme Muslim group faces significant losses of both fighters and lands. Turkey revealed, that it has some 2,200 foreigners who attempted to join the Islamic State in custody, while sources revealed to TV7 that many of the foreigners are European nationals.