LBCI

Kosovo makes arrests in new push to stem flow of fighters to Syria, Iraq

World News

17-09-2014 | 04:54

Share

Share

Kosovo makes arrests in new push to stem flow of fighters to Syria, Iraq

2^min

Police in Kosovo arrested 15 people on Wednesday, including a number of imams, in the second major operation in weeks to stem the flow of young ethnic Albanians joining Islamist fighters in Iraq and Syria, a police source said.

Local media reported that an influential imam of the Grand Mosque in the capital, Pristina, was among those arrested, as was the leader of an Islamic-rooted political party.

Most of Kosovo's 1.8 million people are ethnic Albanian Muslims and lead largely secular lives.

A police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters: "We have arrested 15 people from all over the country. The charges include terrorism, threatening the constitutional order, incitement and religious hate speech."

A police spokesman said "some people" had been arrested in an operation launched in the morning, but declined to elaborate.

The swoop follows the Aug. 11 arrest of 40 people on suspicion of fighting in Iraq and Syria or recruiting insurgents.

Fears of a creeping radicalization among their Muslim communities are stirring in other Balkan countries - such as Serbia and Bosnia - with dozens of their citizens also known to have joined Islamist fighters in the Middle East.

Intelligence officials in Kosovo believe between 100 and 200 Kosovars are fighting in Iraq and Syria, where Islamic State militants have seized swathes of land, drawing U.S. air strikes. At least 20 are reported to have been killed in the past year.

Landlocked and impoverished, Kosovo won independence from Serbia in 2008, almost a decade after a U.S.-led NATO air war drove out Serbian forces accused of killing and expelling Albanian civilians during a counter-insurgency campaign.

REUTERS

Subscribe to our VOD

SUBSCRIBE

Our visitors readings

Israeli airstrike targets apartment in Beirut’s Jnah area

2026-03-28

Israeli airstrike targets apartment in Beirut’s Jnah area

North Korea names new defense minister, KCNA says

2026-08-30

North Korea names new defense minister, KCNA says

NATO says 'adjusting' Iraq mission

Middle East News

2026-03-20

NATO says 'adjusting' Iraq mission

Official sources to LBCI: Washington meeting focused on ceasefire, part of longer negotiation process

2026-04-14

Official sources to LBCI: Washington meeting focused on ceasefire, part of longer negotiation process

Videos

Lebanon-Israel talks: delegations arrive at US Embassy in Rome — Video

2026-08-06

Lebanon-Israel talks: delegations arrive at US Embassy in Rome — Video

Residents begin returning to Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon: Video

2026-07-24

Residents begin returning to Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon: Video

Slotkin to LBCI: Lebanese army needs resources to confront Hezbollah, $36 million request submitted for special forces

2026-07-20

Slotkin to LBCI: Lebanese army needs resources to confront Hezbollah, $36 million request submitted for special forces

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington: trilateral framework agreement first step toward restoring sovereignty

2026-06-26

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington: trilateral framework agreement first step toward restoring sovereignty

Rubio on Lebanon-Israel framework agreement: 'beginning of the beginning,' more work needed

2026-06-26

Rubio on Lebanon-Israel framework agreement: 'beginning of the beginning,' more work needed

Lebanon, Israel sign trilateral framework agreement after Washington talks attended by Rubio: Video

2026-06-26

Lebanon, Israel sign trilateral framework agreement after Washington talks attended by Rubio: Video

Israeli strikes renew on Choukine, Maifadoun, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon: Video

2026-06-20

Israeli strikes renew on Choukine, Maifadoun, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon: Video

Massive Israeli strikes hit South Lebanon under ceasefire conditions

2026-06-19

Massive Israeli strikes hit South Lebanon under ceasefire conditions

Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon campaign, says war has gone on ‘too long’ and floats Syria role in conflict

2026-06-16

Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon campaign, says war has gone on ‘too long’ and floats Syria role in conflict

Most read

24 hours

7 days

Month

Israeli army says it completed clearing Hezbollah underground infrastructure on Ali al-Taher Heights

1

Israeli army says it completed clearing Hezbollah underground infrastructure on Ali al-Taher Heights

Lebanon generator bills spark questions: Breaking down the August cost surge

2

Lebanon generator bills spark questions: Breaking down the August cost surge

Detainee releases open new chapter in Lebanon-Israel talks — the details

3

Detainee releases open new chapter in Lebanon-Israel talks — the details

Iran warns US against Israeli attack on South Lebanon ridge held by Hezbollah: Sources tell Reuters

4

Iran warns US against Israeli attack on South Lebanon ridge held by Hezbollah: Sources tell Reuters

Israeli Channel 12: Israel is expected to release five prisoners of war to Lebanon today

5

Israeli Channel 12: Israel is expected to release five prisoners of war to Lebanon today

FBI returns three ancient Lebanese artifacts to Lebanon

6

FBI returns three ancient Lebanese artifacts to Lebanon

Israel releases five Lebanese detainees arrested in southern Lebanon

7

Israel releases five Lebanese detainees arrested in southern Lebanon

ICRC returns man seized by Israel to Lebanon

8

ICRC returns man seized by Israel to Lebanon

Download now the LBCI mobile app

To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world

Google Play

App Store

Download now the LBCI mobile app

We use
cookies

We use cookies to make
your experience on this
website better.

Accept

Learn More