Members of the Syrian security forces stand in front of the gate of the AL-Hol camp, which houses families of suspected Daesh terrorists, after the Syrian government took control of the area, in Hasakah province, Syria, Jan. 21, 2026. (EPA Photo)
Iraq says to start legal proceedings against Daesh detainees moved from Syria
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- Iraq to prosecute Daesh detainees transferred from Syria as part of U.S.-led security operation.
Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council has announced it will begin prosecuting Daesh detainees who have been transferred from detention facilities in northeastern Syria to Iraqi custody, officials said on Thursday.
U.S.-Led Transfers of Detainees
The move comes amid a broader operation led by the U.S. military to relocate suspected Daesh fighters from Syrian Kurdish-controlled prisons to secure facilities in Iraq, where authorities say they can better ensure security and order. The first group of around 150 detainees has already been transferred, and as many as 7,000 more could follow.
Security and Judicial Measures
Iraqi officials, citing security concerns after the collapse of Kurdish‑led forces in northeast Syria, described those already received as senior members of the group. The judicial council said in a statement that Iraqi courts will apply due legal procedures to all suspects once they are formally received and placed in correctional facilities.
“All suspects, regardless of their nationalities or positions within the terrorist organisation, are subject exclusively to the authority of the Iraqi judiciary,” the council said. Iraqi authorities plan to hold senior figures at a high‑security facility near Baghdad airport that was formerly used by U.S. forces.
Preventing Prison Breaks and Regional Instability
The transfer effort aims to prevent large‑scale prison breaks and instability after Syrian government forces advanced on facilities once held by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Thousands of detainees and family members still remain in camps and detention centres in northeastern Syria.
Concerns Over Legal Rights and Punishments
Relatives of some detainees in Europe have expressed concern about the transfers, particularly over the potential for capital punishment under Iraqi law, though Iraqi officials stress that legal rights will be upheld.
Significance for Post-Daesh Accountability
Iraq’s announcement marks a significant step in post‑Daesh accountability efforts and reflects regional shifts in security arrangements after the 2019 territorial defeat of the group in Syria and 2017 in Iraq.
