GARDAI are secretly preparing for the return of Irish nationals who travelled to fight with Islamic militants, we can reveal.

Foreign fighters in Mosul, Iraq, and Raqqa in Syria are expected to flee in the coming months as US-backed local troops continue to pound Islamic State’s de facto capitals.

7 Khalid Kelly is one of the most well-known cases of an Irish citizen who travelled abroad to fight for terror organisations

Earlier this month US Air Force Colonel John Dorrian said IS is “on the brink of total defeat in Mosul”, while soldiers inch ever closer to the extremists’ Raqqa stronghold.

And we can reveal that security officials in Ireland have now drawn up a list of 30 individuals based abroad that they are tracking.

Gardai are “worried” by the prospect of IS and Free Syrian Army fighters travelling here in the coming months and have stepped up monitoring of “interested parties”.

7 Salman Abedi, who was behind the Manchester suicide bombing

Returning jihadis are also of major concern to authorities in the United Kingdom, who have estimated that 850 British-born foreign fighters remain in the Middle East.

Manchester bomber Salman Abedi is believed to have travelled to Syria and become radicalised before returning to the UK to cause carnage at an Ariana Grande gig.

Twenty-three people were killed and dozens seriously injured when Abedi, 22, detonated a device as fans left Manchester Arena on May 22.

Manchester-born Abedi is reported to have made several trips to Libya, his parents’ country, and returned from there days before the attack.

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A source said: “IS are urging those fighting in Iraq and Syria to return home and cause more carnage. They know the end is coming.

“That’s the big worry at the moment. Whether it actually happens is another question. But we have to be prepared and watch those coming into the country.

“We are not just talking about Irish nationals. There have been a number of foreign-born individuals who have Irish children, and who have left from Ireland.

“In many cases they lived here for a number of years beforehand. If they return with their child then they cannot be stopped.”

7 A detailed map highlighting how Irish fighters make there way into Syria from Turkey

In 2015, the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Act was signed into law here.

It introduced three new offences of public provocation to commit a terrorist offence, recruitment for terrorism, and training for terrorism. These can carry sentences of up to ten years.

However, it has never been tested here.

Our source added: “In contrast to the UK, the law is weak in that area and has never been tested here.

“The first similar case on this island is currently before the Courts in Northern Ireland. Laws tend to be born out of incidents, so the lack of incidents is letting the Government off the hook.

7 Fighting in the Middle East does not looking close to ending as Iraqi soldiers try to win back territory from ISIS

“In England they have very specific legislation to deal with returning fighters. We have a bit but a lot of it encompasses old IRA stuff too. We could do with more legislation in this area.”

Our source explained: “There are a number of different levels of radicals here in Ireland.

“There are a few hardcore lads but it’s mostly sympathisers or those who provide financial support. A lone wolf is the biggest threat though.”

It’s understood that dozens of radicals have travelled from Ireland to the Middle East to fight with IS.

7 The scene in the Manchester Arena after a bomb exploded following an Ariana Grande concert

In many cases, such as suicide bomb flop Khalid Kelly, their travel was organised by a Jordanian man booted out of Ireland last year.

The Jordanian — who we are not allowed to name — was kicked out in July after the High Court dismissed his appeal to stay.

The State dubbed him the “main recruiter” of IS in Ireland. He is still communicating with supporters on social media from Jordan.

As we revealed after his death, Kelly went to the Middle East after being radicalised by the recruiter, who also had a role in radicalising the two men arrested in Dublin in connection to a terror group.

The 50-year-old made his way to Syria and then later to Iraq in March 2016, just before the Jordanian national was deported.

However, Kelly’s death mission was a humiliating failure and he was blown up by government forces at the city of Tal Afar, near Mosul.

7 Fianna Fail TD Lisa Chambers who said it would be naive of the government not to prepare in some way for potential terror attacks

Cops also believe Kelly may have been forced to take on the operation as a PR coup and because he became a burden on fellow fighters.

Recently we revealed how the Army are helping gardai prepare for IS terror attacks here with a series of anti-terror drills.

Last month, gardai from the Counter Terrorism International unit arrested two men suspected of being involved in an IS cell group, while in April a couple were arrested in Co Waterford accused of fundraising for the terrorist organisation.

Top officers from our police force regularly link up with Army officials to update a ra­nge of contingency plans, assess terror threats and ­organise joint anti-terror exercises for gardai and the troops.

7 Defence Minister of State Paul Kehoe confirmed that there is an active cooperation between the Gardai and the Defence Forces in preparing for potential terror attacks

Defence Minister of State Paul Kehoe confirmed to Fianna Fail’s Defence spokesperson Lisa Chambers that there is “very active cooperation” between the Gardai and the Defence Forces in preparing for a potential terror attack when she raised the issue in the Dail.

Ms Chambers told the Irish Sun: “There have been a number of incidents here in the past couple of months and it just goes to show you that we are no different to any other jurisdiction and there is a potential threat here as well.

“The Gardai and the Defence Forces have key skills and expertise in both ­organisations that very much complement each other.”

The Mayo TD added: “It would be very naive of us as a state not to prepare in some way but I don’t think we should be living in fear or be overly concerned.”