The US completed a 23-day mission that moved more than 5,700 suspected ISIL detainees from SDF-run prisons in northeastern Syria to Iraqi custody, concluding with a night flight on Feb. 12. Iraq reported 5,704 detainees from 61 nationalities arrived, including 3,543 Syrians and over 980 foreigners. CENTCOM said the transfer aimed to secure the detainees after territorial shifts in northern Syria raised fears of breakouts. Iraqi authorities will interrogate the detainees and pursue legal action; calls for repatriation by other countries remain limited.
US Completes Transfer Of More Than 5,700 Suspected ISIL Detainees From Syria To Iraq
Detainees at the al-Hol camp in Syria’s northeastern Hasakah province [File: Abdulmonam Eassa/Getty Images]
The United States has announced the completion of a 23-day operation that relocated more than 5,700 suspected ISIL (ISIS) detainees from prisons in northeastern Syria into Iraqi custody.
Operation Details
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the transfer mission began on Jan. 21 and concluded after a night flight from northeastern Syria to Iraq on Feb. 12. CENTCOM described the operation as intended "to help ensure ISIS detainees remain secure in detention facilities." The US had earlier indicated it planned to transfer roughly 7,000 detainees.
Numbers And Nationalities
Iraq’s National Centre for International Judicial Cooperation (NCIJC) reported that 5,704 ISIL detainees of 61 nationalities arrived in Iraq. The NCIJC’s breakdown included 3,543 Syrians, 467 Iraqis, 710 detainees from other Arab countries and more than 980 foreigners from regions including Europe, Asia, Australia and the United States.
Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM: "We appreciate Iraq’s leadership and recognition that transferring the detainees is essential to regional security. Job well done to the entire Joint Force team who executed this exceptionally challenging mission on the ground and in the air."
Why The Transfer Was Carried Out
The detainees had been held for years by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in prisons and camps after ISIL’s territorial defeat. Recent advances by Syrian government forces in parts of northern Syria and the withdrawal of SDF guards raised concerns about security and the risk of a breakout or reabsorption of fighters into militant networks—prompting the US-led relocation to Iraq.
Next Steps And Legal Process
The NCIJC said Iraq’s judicial authorities will interrogate the detainees and pursue legal action where appropriate. Baghdad has urged countries to repatriate their nationals among the detainees, but returns appear unlikely in most cases; repatriations to date have been limited and primarily involved women and children.
Humanitarian And Security Concerns
Humanitarian sources told AFP that many foreign families left the al-Hol camp in northeast Syria after SDF forces withdrew. Al-Hol, established in 2019, has been criticized by aid workers and security officials for violence, the presence of underground ISIL enforcement groups and its potential as a recruitment ground for future armed groups.
This transfer is presented by US and Iraqi officials as a measure to reduce regional security risks while detainees undergo interrogation and legal processing in Iraq.
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