A court in North Macedonia has jailed seven citizens, accusing them of fighting with the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq.

Six men were given six-year sentences for joining IS, while a seventh man was jailed for nine years after also being found guilty on charges of organizing a terrorist group.

The suspects were arrested last August in Syria by international coalition forces and later handed over to Macedonian authorities.

It was the second group from North Macedonia sentenced for joining and recruiting IS fighters. In March 2016, six people, including a Muslim preacher were sentenced from five to seven years in prison.

According to police, about 150 of the country's citizens have joined Islamic State extremists.