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Thousands islamic state Group prisoners are being moved from detention facilities in the Northeast Syria arrive Iraqupon request Baghdad Welcomed by officials from both countries led by the U.S. alliance and the Syrian government.
The move comes after the U.S. army It was announced on Wednesday that the transfer of some of the approximately 9,000 Islamic State detainees currently being held in a dozen centers in northeastern Syria, which is controlled by the Islamic State, has begun. Kurdishled syria democracy force(Self-Defense Forces). initial transfer It involves the transfer of 150 IS members from Syria’s northeastern Hasakah province to “safe locations” in Iraq, and up to 7,000 detainees may be moved to Iraqi-controlled facilities.
This major relocation comes amid growing instability in northeastern Syria. As part of a ceasefire, Syrian government forces recently took control of the sprawling Al Hol camp, which houses thousands of people, mostly women and children, from the SDF. The chaos has spread to prisonThe army seized a facility in the northeastern town of Shadad on Monday and some Islamic State detainees escaped before many were captured, state media reported.
The SDF reported Thursday that government forces shelled Aktan, further escalating tensions prison near northern cities Raqqa Use heavy weapons while surrounding the facility with tanks and deploying fighter jets. The Aktan prison, which houses some Islamic State prisoners, was surrounded by government forces earlier this week and talks are ongoing over its future.
Baghdad is increasingly concerned that the government’s push into northeastern Syria, particularly along the Iraqi border, is creating instability that could lead to detainees escaping and pose a direct threat to Iraq’s security. An Iraqi security official confirmed that the decision to transfer the prisoners was taken in Iraq’s national security interests, rather than keeping them in Syria. That sentiment was echoed by a senior U.S. military official, who told The Associated Press that Iraq had “offered” to take in the prisoners. Both officials spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to comment publicly.
The SDF played a crucial role in defeating ISIS and have previously handed over foreign fighters, including French Citizens petitioned Iraqi authorities for trial and sentencing. While the SDF still operates more than a dozen detention facilities housing some 9,000 Islamic State members, the facilities will be transferred to government control under an ongoing peace process that also envisions the SDF’s eventual integration into government forces.
The transfers underscore the ongoing threat posed by the Islamic State, which despite being defeated in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria two years later, continues to carry out deadly attacks through sleeper cells in both countries.