French Prime Minister Manuel Valls (AFP photo)
Paris (IINA) – French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Sunday that more than 600 people have now left France for Syria and Iraq, with about 800 more waiting their chance to leave the country to join Islamic State (IS), Reuters reported.
"We are in a battle on our soil," Walls said in a speech to Socialist party supporters. "Each day (we) ... trace networks, locate cells, arrest individuals. Today 2,029 French citizens or residents are implicated in terrorist networks," he added.
European governments have been tightening anti-terrorism laws as the Syrian conflict enters its sixth year, agreeing to share more intelligence and taking down radical websites to try to stop their citizens from going to fight in the Middle East and bringing militancy home.
Breaking down the figures, Walls said 609 people who are French nationals or have French resident's status are currently among fighters, including 283 women and 18 minors. Almost 170 have been killed while in Syria or Iraq and 300 have returned to France from those countries.
"Almost 800 would today like to go to these war zones, according to intelligence services," Valls said, adding that 1,000 people are being monitored closely.
AB/IINA
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