The ISIS prisoner transfer to Iraq has been completed, the US Central Command announced Friday, confirming that more than 5,700 detainees were moved from detention facilities in northeastern Syria to Iraq.
According to CENTCOM, the operation began on January 21 and concluded on February 12, aiming to ensure that Islamic State detainees remain in secure detention facilities and to prevent potential escape attempts.
Iraqi authorities confirmed the arrival of thousands of suspects of various nationalities and said judicial procedures began immediately upon their transfer.
Details of the ISIS Prisoner Transfer to Iraq
In an official statement, US Central Command said American forces transported “more than 5,700 adult male ISIS fighters” from detention centers in Syria to Iraq during a 23-day mission conducted by air and land.
CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper described the mission as “extremely complex,” praising joint forces for completing what he called a highly challenging task. Washington had previously indicated that up to 7,000 detainees could be transferred.
Iraq’s National Center for International Judicial Cooperation, affiliated with the Supreme Judicial Council, announced that 5,704 detainees from 61 nationalities had arrived in Iraq as part of the operation.
Breakdown of Nationalities
According to Iraqi judicial authorities, the detainees include:
- 3,543 Syrians
- 467 Iraqis
- 710 nationals from other Arab countries
- More than 980 non-Arab foreign nationals, including Europeans, Americans, and Australians
Earlier, an Iraqi security source told AFP that hundreds of foreign nationals were among the transferred detainees, many holding European, Asian, or Australian citizenship.
Iraqi Investigations and Legal Procedures
The National Center for International Judicial Cooperation stated that Iraqi courts immediately began interrogating the suspects upon arrival to initiate legal proceedings under Iraqi law.
Saad Maan, head of Iraq’s Security Media Cell, confirmed that investigations have already started with several groups of detainees. Baghdad continues to call on countries to repatriate their nationals and prosecute them domestically.
Judicial officials indicated that investigations may take between four and six months, noting that some detainees are classified as “high risk.” Authorities stressed that any discussion of extradition to their home countries would only be considered after domestic legal procedures are completed.
In previous years, Iraqi courts have issued prison sentences, life terms, and death penalties against hundreds convicted of belonging to ISIS under the country’s counterterrorism law.
Karkh Prison and Redistribution of Inmates
The detainees were transferred to Karkh Prison in Baghdad, a former US military detention facility previously known as Camp Cropper.
To accommodate the incoming prisoners, Iraqi authorities relocated thousands of other inmates to different correctional facilities across the country, according to a lawyer and a detainee who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity.
Developments at al-Hol Camp
The transfer coincided with developments in northeastern Syria, where Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces withdrew from large areas in January, and Syrian state forces redeployed in parts of the region.
Sources from humanitarian organizations and witnesses told AFP that most foreign families linked to ISIS have left al-Hol camp in eastern Syria, which previously housed around 24,000 people.
The foreign nationals section had contained approximately 6,300 women and children from 42 countries, within a total camp population that included about 15,000 Syrians and more than 2,200 Iraqis.
Background: ISIS Rise and Defeat
In 2014, ISIS seized vast territories in Iraq and Syria, committing mass killings and imposing its control over major cities.
Iraq declared military victory over the group in December 2017 with support from the US-led international coalition. In Syria, the group was territorially defeated in 2019 by the Syrian Democratic Forces.
Despite these defeats, ISIS cells continue to operate in remote areas, and Iraqi security forces maintain operations to pursue remaining elements and document crimes attributed to the group.
Conclusion:
The completion of the ISIS prisoner transfer to Iraq marks a significant security and legal development, placing responsibility on Iraqi authorities to manage investigations and detention, while international debate continues over the fate of foreign ISIS suspects.
