Iraq Receives Thousands of Daesh Detainees From Syria Transfer

[Mudhab]

Iraq has confirmed the reception of 2,225 Daesh detainees transferred from Syria as part of a broader operation coordinated by the United States and the international coalition. The transfer began last month following an announcement by US Central Command that up to 7,000 detainees would be moved to Iraq to ensure they remain in secure detention facilities. These individuals were previously held in prisons and camps administered by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in northeastern Syria.

According to Iraqi officials, the transfer process is being carried out by land and air under tight security arrangements. Saad Maan, head of the security information cell linked to the Iraqi prime minister's office, stated that the detainees are now being held in strictly regulated detention centers. Kurdish military sources have also confirmed the continuation of these transfers under the protection of the international coalition.

The decision to relocate the detainees followed remarks by the US envoy to Syria indicating that the SDF's role in confronting Daesh had effectively ended. Observers have reported visible signs of the operation, including US military convoys and buses transporting detainees near Qamishli in northeastern Syria.

Daesh once controlled large areas of northern and western Iraq from 2014 before being militarily defeated in 2017 with the support of coalition forces. Despite this victory, Iraq continues to deal with the devastating consequences of the group's crimes, including widespread human rights abuses and infrastructure destruction.

Iraqi courts have since prosecuted thousands of individuals linked to Daesh, issuing life sentences and death penalties in severe cases. Recently, investigative procedures began for 1,387 newly transferred detainees as part of this ongoing judicial effort.

The detainees include Iraqis, Syrians, Europeans, and other foreign nationals. Iraq has urged countries to repatriate their citizens and ensure accountability. Officials emphasized that handovers will begin once all legal requirements are fulfilled, reaffirming Iraq's commitment to justice and national security.

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