US says over 5,700 suspected ISIL detainees relocated from Syria to Iraq

"The United States has announced the completion of the transfer of more than 5,700 suspected ISIL (ISIS) detainees from Syria to Iraq. The 23-day transfer mission began on Jan 21 and resulted in US forces successfully transporting more than 5,700 adult male ISIS fighters from detention facilities in Syria to Iraqi custody, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on X on Saturday."

"The operation was completed after a night flight from northeastern Syria to Iraq took place on February 12, to help ensure ISIS detainees remain secure in detention facilities, CENTCOM added. The US had previously announced it would transfer about 7,000 detainees. The detainees from some 60 countries had for years been held in Syrian prisons run by Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) before the recapture of surrounding territory by the Syrian government prompted the US to step in."

"ISIL swept across Syria and Iraq in 2014, committing massacres and forcing women and girls into sexual slavery. Backed by US-led forces, Iraq proclaimed a victory over ISIL in the country in 2017, and the SDF ultimately defeated the armed group in Syria two years later. The SDF went on to jail thousands of suspected fighters and detain tens of thousands of their relatives in camps."

The United States completed a 23-day mission beginning Jan 21 that moved more than 5,700 adult male suspected ISIL fighters from detention facilities in northeastern Syria into Iraqi custody. The operation concluded after a night flight on February 12 and aimed to keep detainees secure in detention facilities. Detainees originated from some 61 nationalities, including 3,543 Syrians, 467 Iraqis, about 710 from other Arab countries, and over 980 foreigners from Europe, Asia, Australia and the US. Many suspects had been held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces following ISIL’s territorial defeats in 2017–2019.

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