ITrump intelligence analysts arrive in Australia to discuss returning IS fighters

EXCLUSIVE: Donald Trump’s top intelligence analysts have flown to Australia to meet with ASIO about terrorists returning home from fighting with ­Islamic State.

IS fighter Khaled Sharrouf was stripped of his Australian citizenship in February.

• IS fighter stripped of Australian citizenship
• Turnbull and Dutton discuss closing terror law loopholes
• Counter-terrorism police targeted by suspects they are pursuing
• IS fighters’ kids: Trauma plans in place

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s top intelligence analysts have flown to Australia to meet with ASIO about the onslaught of terrorists returning home from fighting with ­Islamic State.

A high level US Department of Homeland Security delegation met with ASIO, Australian immigration and other intelligence agencies in Canberra last week to share experiences and further collaborate on border protection and counter-terrorism.

It comes as Australian security and intelligence agencies brace for a ­return of foreign fighters to the region, and as the Trump ­administration prepares to ­introduce a travel ban on ­nationals from six Muslim ­majority countries.

President Trump’s visiting delegation from the Department of Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis.

As Islamic State loses its grip in Mosul and Raqqa, intelligence agencies expect Australian terrorists will look to leave the area.

Some of the Australians fighting with IS are expected to try to return home, either to carry out attacks on Australian soil or because they are disillusioned and looking for a return to regular life.

Other Australians are expected to try to enter Europe to continue their terror activity.

There are about 100 Australians and up to 500 Indonesian foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria. Since 2014, 40 foreign fighters have already returned to Australia.

Most of these, about 30, were before the rise of Islamic State in 2014.

Government sources told The Daily Telegraph the US delegation was from the ­Department of Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis. A source said the meetings were productive, positive and eye-opening.

Australia and the US share intelligence as part of the Five-Eyes alliance.

IN OTHER NEWS: BIZARRE QUESTION TO TURNBULL

There are discussions about Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visiting the US to meet with Mr Trump in May.

There was also talk Mr Turnbull might follow that visit with a trip to China, where he could go to the AFL game in Shanghai on May 14.

But that appears unlikely given the political imperative of selling the federal Budget.

The Turnbull government has been planning for the return of Australians who joined the conflict in Iraq and Syria, with eight tranches of national security legislation passed in the past 3½ years to give security agencies greater powers.

IS fighter Khaled Sharrouf is believed to have become the first dual national stripped of Australian citizenship under anti-terrorism laws.