Iraq Transfers Over 2,000 Islamic State Detainees from Syria, Officials Say

Iraqi security spokesman Saad Maan announced that 2,250 detained Islamic State members have been transferred from Syria to Iraq, with additional transfers expected as part of expanded efforts to prosecute militants.

The operation was coordinated with the international coalition and conducted by land and air, placing the detainees in high-security Iraqi facilities, according to Kurdistan24. U.S. forces are directly assisting the transfers. Saad Maan stated that many of the detainees are accused of involvement in the 2014 Islamic State attacks across Iraq and Syria.

A high-level committee has been formed in Iraq to oversee investigations and legal processing. Iraqi officials indicated that interrogations of the detainees could yield intelligence supporting regional security.

Reuters reported earlier that the United States is close to completing the transfer of about 7,000 suspected Islamic State detainees from northeast Syria, prioritizing those considered most dangerous.

Thousands of suspected Islamic State fighters and family members have remained in detention camps in northeast Syria since the group's territorial defeat in 2019. Several countries have been reluctant to repatriate their nationals, leaving Iraq and regional authorities to handle the security and legal challenges posed by foreign fighters.

Iraqi and U.S. officials emphasized that continued cooperation and international coordination are essential to ensure the detainees face justice and to prevent future extremist threats.