Halima Salman, a 20-year-old American woman, is facing criminal charges in the United States for training with ISIS in Syria. She is accused of learning how to use an AK-47 assault rifle from the terrorist organization while living in Syria. Salman was part of a family of 11 US citizens who were repatriated from northeast Syria in what Secretary of State Antony Blinken described as the largest single repatriation of Americans from the region. None of the family members are former ISIS fighters.
Salman left the United States and entered an ISIS-controlled area of Syria when she was 17 years old, around late 2016 or early 2017. Once she turned 18, prosecutors allege that she received training from ISIS. She was captured by or surrendered to forces opposed by ISIS about two years later in Baghouz, Syria. In 2023, she was interviewed by FBI agents at a detention facility in Syria where she denied being involved in any ISIS activities. However, the FBI obtained information from a phone allegedly belonging to Salman’s husband, which contained pictures of her with an AK-47 and in front of an ISIS flag.
The all-female battalion of ISIS fighters that Salman allegedly trained with was led by a Kansas woman who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022. Members of the battalion, some as young as 10, were trained to use explosives and firearms. The US has been working to repatriate Americans from former ISIS territory and has called on other countries to do the same. There are tens of thousands of people, mainly children, from over 60 countries still in Al-Hol and Roj encampments in northeast Syria.
Salman’s case highlights the ongoing threat posed by individuals who have trained with terrorist organizations abroad. The charges she faces underscore the seriousness of such actions and the legal consequences that may follow. The US government’s efforts to repatriate its citizens from former ISIS territory demonstrate a commitment to addressing the complex challenges posed by foreign fighters and the need for international cooperation in addressing such threats. The case also raises questions about the processes involved in identifying and prosecuting individuals who have been involved with terrorist groups.
The involvement of women and even young children in terrorist activities, such as those trained by the all-female battalion in ISIS, underscores the need for comprehensive strategies to prevent radicalization and recruitment by extremist organizations. The implications of individuals like Salman, who have trained with ISIS abroad and are now facing legal consequences in the US, raise important issues about security measures, law enforcement coordination, and the wider impact of global terrorism on societies and communities. The ongoing efforts to repatriate individuals from former ISIS territories reflect the complexities and challenges of dealing with the aftermath of conflicts involving terrorist groups and the broader implications for international security and stability.
