US says over 5,700 suspected ISIL detainees relocated from Syria to Iraq | ISIL/ISIS News
U.S. Completes Transfer of Over 5,700 ISIL Detainees to Iraq
Iraq confirms arrival of detainees from diverse nationalities.
The United States has finalized the transfer of more than 5,700 suspected ISIL (ISIS) detainees from Syria to Iraq, as confirmed by Iraqi authorities on Saturday.
The transfer, which began on January 21, was completed over a 23-day mission conducted by U.S. forces. In a statement issued on the social media platform X, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the detainees were moved from detention facilities in Syria to Iraqi custody. The operation concluded with a night flight from northeastern Syria to Iraq on February 12, aimed at securing ISIL detainees within detention facilities in the region.
Initially, the U.S. planned to transfer approximately 7,000 detainees, many of whom had been held for years in prisons operated by Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The U.S. stepped in following the Syrian government’s recapture of territories surrounding these prisons, spurring concerns about the safety of the detainees.
ISIL, which surged across Syria and Iraq in 2014, was responsible for numerous atrocities, including mass killings and the enslavement of women and girls. After significant military campaigns supported by U.S. forces, Iraq declared victory over ISIL in late 2017, while the SDF defeated the group in Syria two years later. The SDF then imprisoned thousands of suspected fighters and their relatives.
According to Iraq’s National Centre for International Judicial Cooperation (NCIJC), the recent transfer included detainees from 61 different countries. This group comprised 3,543 Syrians, 467 Iraqis, and 710 individuals from other Arab nations, along with over 980 foreigners, including citizens from Europe, Asia, Australia, and the United States.
CENTCOM head Admiral Brad Cooper commended the operation, stating, “We appreciate Iraq’s leadership and recognition that transferring the detainees is essential to regional security.” He acknowledged the efforts of the Joint Force team responsible for executing the transfer.
The NCIJC reported that Iraq’s judiciary will conduct interrogations of the detainees before further legal actions are determined.
Concerns over the fate of ISIL prisoners grew last month after Syrian forces pushed the SDF out of several northern regions. The U.S. authorities expressed urgency in transferring the detainees to prevent potential security threats stemming from a possible breakout.
Iraq has called on nations to repatriate their citizens among the detainees; however, it remains uncertain how many will actually return. Previously, the SDF had urged foreign governments to take back their nationals, a request that saw limited success, primarily concerning women and children.
The situation in the al-Hol camp, one of the largest holding sites for families of ISIL fighters in northeastern Syria, has also been precarious. Following the SDF’s withdrawal, most foreign families have exited the camp, according to humanitarian sources.
Aid workers have documented severe conditions at al-Hol, which has developed a reputation as a breeding ground for extremism, raising alarms among security officials about the potential for future armed groups to emerge from within the camp.
