Iraq temporarily holds Daesh detainees from Syria under security measures

• Iraq temporarily transfers Daesh detainees from Syria to safeguard national and regional security.
• Iraqi PM urges countries to repatriate their citizens for prosecution under Iraqi law.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani announced on Sunday that the transfer of Daesh detainees from Syria to Iraq is a “temporary measure” aimed at preserving national and regional security. He called on countries with citizens among the detainees to repatriate them for fair trials.

Temporary Transfer for Security

The announcement came during Al-Sudani’s meeting with Atul Khare, UN Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office.

Al-Sudani emphasized that Iraq has demonstrated responsibility in managing the detainees and is capable of implementing measures to prevent terrorist activity. He urged the international community to ensure that foreign Daesh members face justice in their home countries.

Read more: Europeans among 150 Daesh detainees transferred from Syria to Iraq

Khare highlighted the importance of international support for Iraq’s handling of the detainees, describing it as a necessary step to prevent the spread of terrorism.

US-Assisted Evacuations

Earlier, the US Central Command (Centcom) launched an operation to move Daesh detainees from northeastern Syria to Iraq after Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) withdrew from certain prison sites, allowing some prisoners to escape before being recaptured by Syrian government forces.

Read more: US to move 7,000 Daesh prisoners from Syria to Iraq

According to Centcom, 150 detainees held in a facility in Hasakah province were moved to a site inside Iraq. Plans are underway to transfer an additional 7,000 detainees. Sources in the Hasakah area confirmed that around six helicopters were used to transport detainees from the notorious Gweiran prison, also known as the “Industrial Prison”, across the border into Iraq.

Ongoing Threat and Legal Process

Iraq is developing a program to investigate and prosecute incoming Daesh members under Iraqi law. Over 10,000 Daesh members, along with tens of thousands of women and children from their families, were previously held in roughly 12 prisons and detention camps run by the SDF in northeastern Syria.

Despite Iraq’s 2017 victory over Daesh, which reclaimed territory after three years of conflict, the group remains active in northern, western, and eastern provinces, occasionally launching attacks that prompt ongoing military and security operations.