Exclusive: Plan to capture, repatriate Islamic State's Western fighters

The US-led anti-Islamic State [IS] coalition is preparing a comprehensive plan to entice Western fighters in the ranks of the IS to turn themselves in and return home, government and security officials have told The New Arab.

Many of these fighters, most of whom are European nationals, "regret" having left their countries and joined the ultra-radical militant group, sources said, adding that IS fighters fell for the group's propaganda but discovered a completely different reality once they arrived in Iraq.

Military commanders from the US, France, Britain, Canada and Germany are currently studying ways to help these fighters turn themselves in, according to officials in the National Intelligence Agency in Baghdad.

A meeting was held in Baghdad last week for the purpose, sources said, after the international coalition received signs from European IS militants that they want to hand themselves over to the authorities in their home countries.

The "regretful" fighters explained the tough conditions of life under IS control, in letters communicated by their families to the authorities, said the sources.

Sources in the office of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi confirmed that a plan was underway and authorities are looking into establishing communication channels with IS militants and finding them a safe passage.

"The target segment in the ranks of IS would also be an invaluable source of intelligence and would be a blow to the group's morale and popularity as well as its ability to recruit," sources added, but said the plan covers only the Iraqi branch of IS.

More than 4,000 Europeans are estimated to have joined the militant group, which continues to attract young people from European countries to join their ranks in the Middle East.