The US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken says more than 10,000 Islamic State fighters still held in Kurdish militia-run camps Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), stressing that this situation “cannot continue”. Speaking at the start of a conference in Rome aimed at renewing international efforts to tackle the jihadist organization, Blinken noted that Washington continues to urge countries, including 78 in the anti-IS coalition, to repatriate who joined the organization, reports APE.
“The situation simply cannot continue. It just can’t be perpetuated. The United States continues to ask countries of origin, including those in the coalition“to repatriate, reintegrate and, where possible, bring their citizens to justice,” he said. “Another key element in defeating the IK is to address the organisation’s threats outside Syria and Iraq, and especially in Africa,” he added.
The ΙΚ has occupied large areas of Iraq and Syria since 2014 enforcing Islamic law. The jihadist group was defeated militarily in 2017, but has since launched attacks from northern Iraq and its porous border with Syria. There have been more than 25 bloody attacks in recent months, which Iraqi officials attribute to IS fighters. Alongside jihadists Al Qaeda-linked organizations and the Islamic State have been strengthened in recent years in the Sahel region of West Africa, despite the deployment of thousands of troops from the West, the region and the UN.
Meeting with a pope
Meanwhile, today Blinken was received by the Pope, in the first high-level meeting he had with the team of the new American president Joe Biden. Their meeting took place at a time when American Catholic bishops are considering banning Holy Communion from those politicians who support abortion, such as the faithful Catholic Biden.
On June 18 the Synod of American Catholic Bishops (USCCB) voted overwhelmingly (168 votes in favor and 55 against) a text on “the importance of the Eucharist in the life of the Church”, which may result in those politicians who support abortions not being able to receive Holy Communion
The Vatican has already expressed its opposition to the USCCB decision, while in May he had called on American bishops to be prudent on possible measures concerning “the situation of Catholic officials in favor of legalizing abortion, euthanasia or other moral damages.” However, American priests are also divided, with some warning against turning the Eucharist “into a weapon.” The issue will now be discussed at the next meeting of American bishops in November.
Blinken – after meeting with the second in the Vatican hierarchy, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Archbishop Paul Gallagher in charge of relations with other countries – talked with Pope Francis for 40 minutes. The American minister is of Jewish descent, married to a Catholic, but his wife did not accompany him on the trip. Holy See spokesman Matteo Bruni spoke of a “cordial” conversation, adding that during their meeting the pope referred to his trip to the United States in 2015 and expressed “his love and attention to the people of the United States.” ».
THE Pope Francis, a pro-immigrant supporter, had criticized former US President Donald Trump shortly before his election to the presidency for his intention to build a wall on the border with Mexico. Nevertheless, Trump visited the Vatican in 2017. At the same time, the pope had previously criticized Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Agreement and welcomed the Biden administration’s move to rejoin the country.
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