Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BRUSSELS (AP) — Britain's defense secretary says the U.K. does not want to take back two British Islamic State members caught in Syria despite U.S. appeals for countries to deal with citizens who've become foreign fighters.
Gavin Williamson said Wednesday in Brussels that the two, part of a notorious British cell dubbed the Beatles, "have turned their back on British ideas, British values."
He said: "Do I want them back in the United Kingdom? No, I don't."
U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces are holding thousands of IS detainees, including hundreds of foreign fighters.
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Tuesday that "the important thing is that the countries of origin keep responsibility for them."
Williamson said that he and Mattis spoke early Wednesday but declined to say what possible solutions they had discussed.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
