Iraq has confirmed that more than 5,000 prisoners linked to ISIS have been transferred from detention facilities in Syria to prisons in Iraq, according to officials from the Iraqi Ministry of Justice.
Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Laibi stated that the transfers and continued detention of the prisoners were carried out at the request of an international coalition led by the United States to combat ISIS, of which Iraq is a key member.
However, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein presented a lower estimate, noting that approximately 3,000 ISIS-affiliated detainees had been transferred so far. He also emphasized that Iraq will require increased financial support to manage the burden of hosting refugees, warning of a recent rise in ISIS activity in Syria.
Reports indicate that U.S. forces have transported thousands of ISIS-linked detainees from prisons and detention centers previously operated by the Syrian Democratic Forces in northeastern Syria. The transfers come as control of these facilities is being handed over to the Syrian government, amid efforts by Damascus to reassert authority across a country still deeply fragmented following years of conflict.
Recent clashes between Syrian government forces and the SDF have resulted in deadly confrontations around major detention sites, raising concerns after several ISIS prisoners reportedly escaped. Security experts warn that any instability in prison control could allow the militant group to reorganize and regain operational strength.
