Donald Trump says the US has asked Britain and other European allies to take back more than 800 Islamic State fighters captured in Syria and put them on trial.

The US president said the terror group’s caliphate in Iraq and Syria is “ready to fall” and “the alternative is not a good one in that we will be forced to release them”.

He added: “The US does not want to watch as these ISIS fighters permeate Europe, which is where they are expected to go.

“We do so much, and spend so much – Time for others to step up and do the job that they are so capable of doing. We are pulling back after 100% caliphate victory!”

Mr Trump’s comments come after justice secretary David Gauke conceded the UK government may not be able to stop IS bride Shamima Begum returning to Britain.

Mr Gauke told Sky News: “Obviously we have to act within the powers that we have.

“It is the case we can’t make people stateless.”

US vice president Mike Pence said the last mile of IS-controlled territory in Syria was being captured by American-backed forces.

A commander with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said they were fighting IS militants in one small part of the eastern village of Baghuz in Deir el-Zour province, near the Iraqi border.

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