Chaos in Syria: Where are German 'Islamic State' members?

"Due to clashes between Syrian interim government forces and the Syrian Kurdish militias that controlled much of the northeast, the prisons and detention camps holding "Islamic State," or IS, members changed hands. In the ensuing chaos, some IS members and their relatives escaped from detention camps. Others were moved to Iraqi prisons. Between January 21 and February 12, the US military helped transport more than 5,700 prisoners out of Syria."

""I've been in contact with the foreign office and they told me that Germany was not involved in the transfers," Pleil told DW. "They said it was purely a matter between the Syrians, the Kurds and the Americans." The German government confirms this. "The Federal Foreign Office is aware of the transfers from detention centers in northeastern Syria to Iraq," a spokesperson told DW. But it "was not involved in the transfer process.""

Werner Pleil's son Dirk joined IS in Syria in 2015, was arrested in 2017 and has been held without trial in northeastern Syrian detention. Dirk likely has tuberculosis and the family has sought his repatriation to Germany for health care or prosecution if needed. Pleil's daughter-in-law and nine-year-old grandson are in Turkey and Pleil wants them returned. Recent clashes between Syrian interim government forces and Syrian Kurdish militias led to prisons and camps changing hands, triggering escapes and transfers. Between January 21 and February 12, US military convoys helped move more than 5,700 prisoners out of Syria to Iraq. The German Foreign Office says it was not involved and lacks a complete picture of nationalities affected.

Read at www.dw.com