Dutchman arrested on suspicion of killing IS fighters Published duration 15 January 2016 Related Topics Syrian civil war

image copyright Reuters image caption Some 100 foreigners are thought to have joined Kurdish fighters

A former Dutch soldier has been arrested on suspicion of killing so-called Islamic State militants while fighting alongside Kurds in Syria.

The 47-year-old was later released but had to surrender his passport to stop him returning to Syria.

Prosecutors said that Dutch law did not allow the use of force apart from in exceptional circumstances.

"Killing an IS fighter therefore could mean being prosecuted for murder," a statement from prosecutors said.

Foreign fighters

Even though the Netherlands is part of the international coalition against the so-called Islamic State (IS), the prosecutors said there was "an important difference between Dutch nationals who travel to Syria on their own to fight against IS and Dutch soldiers who train Iraqi and Kurdish forces".

The Dutch military presence was legal and took place "at the request of the Iraqi government", they added.

The man's name cannot be released under Dutch privacy law and it was unclear when he left the military.

Prosecutors said further investigation into the soldier's involvement was required to decide whether charges would be brought.

The BBC understands that about 100 Western volunteers have joined Kurdish forces in the region - including some Britons.

In some instances they have faced legal troubles on their return to their home countries.