Two young British men who travelled to Syria to join an al Qaida-linked terrorist group have been jailed for 12 years and eight months.
Childhood friends Mohammed Ahmed and Yusuf Sarwar, from Birmingham, fled to the war-torn country in May last year after contacting Islamic extremists.
The men, both 22, were arrested at Heathrow Airport on their return to the UK because their families put pressure on them to come home.
They pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorism acts contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act.
The pair were today sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court in London with an extended licence period of five years.
Judge Michael Topolski QC said: "They willingly, enthusiastically and with a great deal of purpose, persistence and determination embarked on a course intended to commit acts of terrorism."
The judge added: "The consequences for them are dramatic and distressing for the families concerned.
"It's with no enthusiasm the court sentences young men to significant terms of imprisonment.
"A grave crime has been committed. The sentence in each is an extended sentence of 17 years and eight months."
Sarwar, wearing a light-coloured shirt, tie and waistcoat, and Ahmed, dressed in a dark suit with a shirt and tie, showed no emotion throughout the hearing.
The bearded defendants, both wearing glasses, were flanked by four security guards in the dock.
Judge Topolski said he had imposed the extended licence term after reaching the "clear conclusion" that Sarwar and Ahmed are "dangerous".
The judge said: "Both of these defendants are fundamentalists who are interested in and deeply committed to violent extremism."
They will serve two thirds of their custodial sentence before being considered for release, he added.
Judge Topolski said that while he concluded Sarwar and Ahmed had not planned for an attack in the UK, there was evidence to show "without doubt" that the men were travelling to Syria "intending on jihad" and "martyrdom on the battlefield".
Ahmed and Sarwar, from the Handsworth area of Birmingham, only returned to the UK after their families put pressure on them to come home.
Judge Topolski praised the "considerable amount of courage" shown by Sarwar's family after they reported him missing to police in May last year following the discovery of a handwritten letter from him revealing he had fled to Syria.
The letter addressed to his mother Majida Sarwar detailed his intention to "do jihad" by joining a terrorist group called Kataib al Muhajireen (KaM) - later renamed Kateeba al-Kawthar.
The letter also contained money to pay off his debts and instructions to end his mobile phone contract.
