Iraqi authorities have taken custody of approximately 5,000 ISIS detainees from detention facilities in Syria as part of an
American-led operation to relocate extremist fighters who were previously confined in Kurdish-controlled areas of northern Syria, according to statements from Iraqi military officials.
Sabah al-Numan, the spokesperson for Iraq’s army commander in chief, confirmed to Rudaw news on February 11 that the prisoner transfer operation from Syrian territory to Iraq continues with coordination from the international coalition. The transferred detainees are now confined within Iraqi correctional facilities, where judicial proceedings have commenced against individuals who perpetrated crimes against Iraqi citizens.
The Iraqi Joint Operations Command’s most recent figures indicate that nearly 5,000 former ISIS members are currently housed in Iraqi detention centers. These individuals face prosecution through Iraq’s legal framework, with authorities pledging thorough investigations into all terrorist and criminal activities carried out against the Iraqi population.
Among the transferred prisoners are individuals implicated in atrocities committed against Iraq’s Yezidi population, including participation in the 2014 genocide targeting this minority community. Ali Dhia, who serves as assistant director of the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation under Iraq’s judiciary, confirmed the presence of these suspects among the transferred detainees.
The transfer initiative followed a major military operation launched last month by Syrian government forces against Kurdish-held
territories across northern and eastern regions of Syria. During this offensive, Syrian troops captured strategic oil installations and urban centers from the Syrian Democratic Forces. The Kurdish forces lost control of Shaddaddi Prison in Hasakah province during the campaign, resulting in approximately 1,500 ISIS inmates escaping after the facility fell to forces loyal to Jolani.
The Syrian Democratic Forces, which previously maintained strong alliance ties with Washington, criticized American authorities for not responding to urgent requests for assistance during the prison breach. Kurdish officials pointed out that a United States military
installation was located merely two kilometers from the compromised detention facility.
Syrian government forces also took control of the Al-Hawl Camp, a sprawling detention site that housed tens of thousands of ISIS fighters and their family members under SDF administration. The camp represented a significant security concern given its population of extremist sympathizers. Video documentation captured large numbers of detainees departing Al-Hawl after Syrian forces emptied the facility. Kurdish Syrian authorities subsequently issued warnings about the heightened risk of ISIS resurgence following the government’s military actions.
Following these developments, American military command announced an operation to relocate ISIS fighters to Iraqi detention infrastructure. Washington indicated plans to transfer up to 7,000 ISIS members, though thousands more remain at large. Iraqi security officials have reported increased ISIS operational activity since the transfers began.
Late January saw the Syrian Democratic Forces and Damascus reach an agreement to cease hostilities and implement a previously negotiated March 2025 accord that had been disputed for nearly twelve months. The agreement requires SDF integration into Syrian military and security structures. Syrian security personnel have established presence in Qamishli and Hasakah, while Ain al-Arab, known as Kobane, remains under siege despite continued Kurdish control.
Disagreements centered on integration methodology, with Kurdish forces advocating for bloc incorporation into the Syrian army while Damascus demanded complete dissolution followed by individual conscription. The compromise established a Defense Ministry division comprising three SDF brigades, though physical integration has not yet commenced beyond joint patrol operations involving Syrian security forces and the Kurdish Asayish internal security service.
The SDF has begun relocating heavy military hardware from major population centers, but implementation remains uncertain amid heightened tensions. Senior officials have documented instances of Damascus forces committing atrocities against Kurdish civilians and religious minorities, including mass killings, beheadings, and execution of entire Kurdish families.
The Syrian army includes numerous extremist elements with documented ISIS connections and histories of war crimes against Kurdish populations. During recent northern operations, Syrian military units conducted indiscriminate bombardment and committed violations against Kurdish fighters, particularly targeting female combatants who comprise a notable component of SDF and affiliated organizations.