The United States said Thursday it was "irresponsible" for Western nations to ask Iraq to prosecute foreign jihadists, in a veiled criticism of France's refusal to repatriate Islamic State members.

"The United States thinks that it's inappropriate to ask Iraq in particular to shoulder the additional burden of foreign fighters, particularly from Europe," Nathan Sales, the State Department counterterrorism coordinator, said after more than 30 nations met in Washington to discuss the fight against the extremist group.

"It would be irresponsible for any country to expect Iraq to solve that problem for them," he told reporters.

The United States has been pressing European nations to bring home and try their citizens who headed to Syria and Iraq to join the ultra-violent movement.

The fate of prisoners has become increasingly urgent after President Donald Trump decided to pull troops from northern Syria, allowing an incursion by Turkey against Kurdish guerrillas.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces had led the fight against the Islamic State group and still keeps thousands of the extremists in the guerrillas' prisons, although US officials say at least dozens have gone missing since Turkey's incursion.

European nations have little desire to see the return of extremists who could cause mayhem at home, with France asking Iraq to try them.

"I think there is candidly a difference of opinion about the best way to solve this problem," Sales said.

"Each country has a responsibility to handle this situation on their own," he said, adding that a related idea of setting up ad hoc international tribunals would "cost a fortune" and could be ineffective.

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Trump says Baghdadi successor in US crosshairs
New York (AFP) Nov 12, 2019
US President Donald Trump placed the Islamic State group's new chief in the crosshairs Monday as he marked Veterans' Day by celebrating the killing of the jihadists' former leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. While US presidents traditionally mark the day by laying a wreath at a vast military cemetery in Arlington, near Washington, Trump traveled to New York where he made an address ahead of the city's annual parade of veterans. Trump was widely criticised after announcing a full withdrawal of US troop ... read more