Islamic State Begum and 65 other Britons in prisons face uncertainty amid offensive

Shamima Begum and 65 other Islamic State-linked Britons detained in prisons and camps in north-east Syria face an uncertain future as Turkish-backed rebel groups continue an offensive against the Kurdish groups who guard them.

- Dan Sabbagh, Eleni Courea

While the Assad regime has collapsed after the fall of Damascus, Turkey has sought to exploit the instability across Syria by attacking Kurdish forces who have been aligned with the US and UK in the fight against IS for a decade.

The deteriorating situation in Syria's north-east has prompted warnings from the US to Turkey while other western intelligence officials also emphasise the importance of maintaining Kurdish control.

There are about 50,000 former IS fighters, women and children detained in prisons and camps controlled by the Kurds, mostly from Iraq and Syria. But their numbers also include Begum and, according to human rights groups, 20 women, 10 men and 35 children who are British citizens or have held British citizenship.

On Tuesday, John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, voiced concern that the offensive by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) could affect the anti-Islamist mission led by Kurdish groups and their military, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).