Kuwait facilitates return of 1,200 foreign fighters from Syria and Iraq since 2018

• Hamad Al-Mashaan emphasized Kuwait’s role in meeting international efforts to resolve the issue of foreign terrorist fighters, including hosting security delegations from their countries of origin.

Hamad Al-Mashaan, Assistant Minister of State for Development and International Cooperation, emphasized Kuwait’s leading role in global efforts to combat terrorism and radical groups, highlighting the country’s successful contributions at both regional and international levels, as reported by Al Rai newspaper.

This took place during a workshop hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Working Group on East Africa, stemming from the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum, chaired by a Kuwaiti-Kenyan, as part of their membership, which they joined in September 2023.

The two leaders stated their joint determination to actively contribute to the strategic vision of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum for the 2021-2031 decade, with a focus on reducing terrorist recruitment.

He emphasized that this should be achieved by addressing internal terrorism, managing the return of terrorists, combating violent extremism at both national and regional levels, enhancing the humanitarian approach in fighting extremism and terrorism, improving strategic partnerships, fostering dialogue and community participation, and adopting new initiatives to tackle the evolving nature of the threat.

Kuwait has taken proactive steps to address crisis of foreign terrorist fighters

The two leaders stated that Kuwait has taken proactive steps, alongside bilateral cooperation with friendly nations, to address the crisis of foreign terrorist fighters and will follow up on the terms of this meeting later.

He highlighted Kuwait’s efforts to meet the international community’s requirements for resolving the issue of foreign terrorist fighters in the region. This includes Kuwait’s role in receiving security delegations from the countries of origin concerned with returning fighters. Since 2018, Kuwait has facilitated the transfer of about 1,200 foreign terrorist fighters and their families from camps in Syria and Iraq via its air bases. Additionally, Kuwait co-chairs with Turkey and the Netherlands to deter the flow of foreign terrorist fighters through the international coalition to defeat ISIS. This collaboration has created favorable conditions for the containment, rehabilitation, and reintegration of terrorist fighters and their families into society.

He also stated that the Kuwaiti government is fully prepared to receive cooperation requests from allies supporting counter-terrorism operations and to provide all necessary resources, stressing Kuwait’s commitment to uniting efforts to achieve the Forum’s objectives within realistic timelines.

Support for Somalia

He emphasized the importance of continuing to support Somalia and East African partners in their efforts to disrupt Al-Shabaab, one of the most dangerous organizations affiliated with Al-Qaeda, responsible for the deaths of thousands of victims in Somalia and across East Africa. He also highlighted the danger of the region remaining a fertile ground for recruiting fighters and the origin of future generations who adopt extremist, radical doctrines.

Integration of fighters into society after trial and rehabilitation

He stressed the importance of addressing the issue of foreign terrorist fighters with a forward-thinking approach, aligning with ambitions to recover them and their families and reintegrate them into society after undergoing rehabilitation, fair trials, and the enforcement of sentences in their home countries’ prisons. This approach is key to achieving sustainable peace in the region and ensuring that no country abandons its nationals who are foreign terrorist fighters in conflict zones.

Kuwait is a pioneer in combating terrorism

The head of the Baghdad office at the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Center, Zeshan Amin, described the conference as “important and contributes to the exchange of experiences on radicalization and the rehabilitation of people affected by terrorism.”

Amin added, “We are working with the governments of Kuwait and Kenya as partners, and we are grateful to the Kuwaiti leadership for hosting the forum.”

He emphasized that Kuwait “is a pioneer in the field of combating terrorism globally, which is why we are working with partners here to understand and exchange experiences on how to confront this scourge.” He also highlighted that Iraq “has been a wonderful partner in the global coalition to combat terrorism and has achieved many successes in this field.”