The US moved a third convoy of ISIL detainees from Ghwayran prison in Hasakah to Iraqi custody under a trilateral ceasefire arrangement involving Damascus, the SDF and US forces. CENTCOM has outlined a plan to relocate about 7,000 detainees regionwide, while Iraq investigates some transferred suspects over atrocities. Meanwhile, Damascus and the SDF are negotiating provincial governance in Hasakah and US activity at the al‑Shaddadi base has noticeably scaled back.
US Transfers Third Convoy Of ISIL Detainees From Northeast Syria To Iraq As Al‑Shaddadi Base Winds Down
A member of the Kurdish forces reacts as Syrian government internal security forces enter the northeastern Syrian city of Hasakah on February 2, 2026 [Delil Souleiman/AFP]
United States forces moved a third convoy of ISIL (ISIS) detainees by road from Ghwayran prison in Hasakah province, northeastern Syria, into Iraqi custody on Saturday, an Al Jazeera correspondent reported. The transfer is part of a three-way arrangement tied to a fragile ceasefire between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), with the US acting as a third-party facilitator.
Trilateral Transfer And Broader Relocation Plan
US Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed a wider operation to relocate detainees from facilities across the region, saying officials plan to move roughly 7,000 prisoners in total. Iraqi authorities have opened investigations into some transferred detainees over alleged atrocities committed against Iraqi citizens.
Shifts In Local Governance
Security dynamics in northeastern Syria have accelerated after government forces advanced across parts of the north and SDF units withdrew from several positions. On Saturday, SDF governor‑designate Nour Eddien Ahmad met a Damascus delegation at the Hasakah government building ahead of a Syrian flag‑raising ceremony. Under the accord between Damascus and the SDF, the SDF may nominate a provincial governor; Ahmad is expected to be formally appointed by the Syrian state. The presence of senior government security officials and the flag ceremony signal Damascus’s expanding administrative reach in Hasakah.
US Base Activity And Force Posture
Separately, an Al Jazeera correspondent reported that US personnel have vacated most watchtowers around a military facility near al‑Shaddadi, leaving only the western tower staffed. Observers also reported soldiers lowering the US flag from one tower and the apparent removal of equipment used to control aircraft operations at the base airstrip. No combat aircraft were observed at the installation, although a large cargo plane landed, stayed for several hours, and later departed.
Background And Ongoing Operations
The United States first established a formal military presence in Syria in October 2015, initially deploying roughly 50 special forces in advisory roles as part of the international coalition against ISIL. Troop numbers have fluctuated since then; reports in mid‑2025 suggested about 500 US troops withdrew, leaving an estimated 1,400 personnel, though exact figures remain unclear because many deployments are classified.
US forces continue to prioritise countering ISIL remnants, supporting local partners including the SDF, providing intelligence and logistical assistance, and helping to secure oil and gas infrastructure in Hasakah and Deir ez‑Zor provinces. In January, the US said it carried out another round of "large‑scale" strikes against ISIL in Syria after an ambush in December in Palmyra killed two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter.
Why this matters: The detainee transfers, shifting local governance arrangements and the drawdown of activity at al‑Shaddadi reflect a fast‑changing security and political landscape in northeastern Syria, with implications for regional counter‑ISIL efforts, local governance and humanitarian conditions.
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