As part of a US-led initiative, up to 7,000 individuals are slated for relocation to detention centers across the border.
According to media outlets, Iraq has received thousands of detainees linked to the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) from Syria, with the US military commencing their transfer last month.
These transfers are a result of an agreement between the Syrian government and Kurdish-led forces, which has re-established Damascus’ authority over significant northeastern territories amidst a phased withdrawal of US troops from the area.
An unidentified Iraqi official informed AFP on Tuesday that 4,500 IS-affiliated detainees have been transferred to date as part of a US-led plan that could ultimately involve the relocation of up to 7,000 suspects. These detainees reportedly include individuals of Iraqi, Syrian, and foreign nationality who were apprehended or held by Kurdish forces during operations against the terrorist group.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed and Kurdish-led entity, had previously managed many of the detention sites and served as Washington’s primary proxy in its campaign against IS, a group that gained prominence in Syria and Iraq in 2014.
The agreement between Damascus and the SDF, coupled with a ceasefire, followed weeks of intense fighting. The ceasefire, announced by Syria’s Ministry of Defense in late January, led to unrest, including a large-scale escape from a detention facility, prompting the US to plan the transfer of thousands of suspects to more secure locations in Iraq.
Kurdish control over oil and gas fields in Deir ez-Zor had supported the US strategy to economically pressure the administration of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, who was overthrown by Ahmed al-Sharaa in late 2024. Following the seizure of power by the former Al Qaeda militant leader, who is backed by Turkey, the US lifted sanctions, creating opportunities for foreign-funded reconstruction.
Iraqi authorities have indicated that investigations into the transferred detainees are anticipated to last between four and six months, contingent on the complexity of each case, and will be conducted under Iraqi legal frameworks.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani was quoted by the Iraqi News Agency on Tuesday stating that the transfers were conducted for the sake of “regional and international security.” He urged the relevant countries “to repatriate their nationals among the detained terrorists.”