Several foreign militants affiliated with the Islamic State terror group including French and Algerian nationals have moved to Afghanistan after they were suppress during the operations in Syria and Iraq, it has been reported.

Sources privy of the development have told AFP that several French and Algerian IS fighters were seen in nothern Jawzjan province of Afghanistan.

Darzab district administrative chief Mohammad Dawar has told the paper that “A number” of Algerian and French nationals entered the largely IS-controlled district of Darzab in northern Jowzjan province in November.

He said at least two women were among the arrivals, who were travelling with a translator from Tajikistan as well as Chechens and Uzbeks, Dawar added.

European and Afghan security sources in Kabul confirmed Dawar’s claim that French citizens were among the fighters — though, one cautioned, “we do not know how many there are”, according to AFP.

In the meantime, the provincial governor’s spokesman Mohammad Reza Ghafoori has said the terror group has so far recruited around 50 children in their ranks in this province, including some children who are as young as 10-year-old.

This comes as earlier reports emerged from Jawzjan province suggesting that the terror group is training almost 300 children to be recruited in their ranks in Jawzjan province.