The United States military has completed the transfer of thousands of Islamic State detainees from Syria to Iraq, where they are expected to face trial, according to an announcement from U.S. Central Command.
The operation, which began on Jan. 21, involved the movement of more than 5,700 adult male suspects previously held in detention facilities in northeastern Syria.
CENTCOM said U.S. forces transported the detainees from prisons operated by the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces to Iraqi custody in Baghdad.
The transfer was carried out at the request of the Iraqi government, marking a significant step in ongoing regional efforts to address the legacy of the Islamic State group.
According to CENTCOM, a total of more than 5,700 adult male Islamic State suspects were relocated during the operation. Iraq’s National Center for International Judicial Cooperation provided a more specific figure, stating that 5,704 suspects affiliated with IS were transferred from Syrian prisons.
The detainees represent 61 different nationalities, reflecting the global reach the militant group once claimed during the height of its power. The Iraqi judicial body noted that most of the suspects are Syrian or Iraqi nationals.
However, the group also includes foreign nationals from Europe as well as countries such as Australia, Canada and the United States, among others. The presence of detainees from dozens of countries has long complicated efforts to determine jurisdiction and responsibility for prosecution.
For years, thousands of suspected Islamic State fighters have been held in detention facilities in northeastern Syria following the territorial defeat of the group by the U.S.-led coalition.
The prisons have been guarded primarily by the Syrian Democratic Forces, with support from the United States and coalition partners.
The recent transfer signals a shift toward consolidating legal proceedings within Iraq, which endured years of violence under Islamic State rule and has conducted numerous terrorism-related prosecutions in its domestic courts.
By taking custody of the detainees, Baghdad is assuming direct responsibility for pursuing legal action against individuals accused of affiliation with the extremist organization.
CENTCOM Commander, Adm. Brad Cooper said, “We appreciate Iraq’s leadership and recognition that transferring the detainees is essential to regional security.”
His remarks underscored Washington’s view that resolving the status of the detainees is a key component of maintaining stability after the military campaign against Islamic State.
The continued detention of thousands of suspected fighters has been viewed as both a safeguard against resurgence and a logistical burden for authorities in Syria.
CENTCOM did not disclose specific details about transportation routes or security measures, but emphasized that the operation was conducted in coordination with Iraqi authorities.
The transfer also reflects continued cooperation between Washington and Baghdad on counterterrorism matters. Although the U.S. military presence in Iraq has evolved in recent years, security collaboration remains a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship.
Transfer To Prevent ISIS Resurgence
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Kevin Lambert, Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, that led the mission planning, coordination, and execution, stated, “The successful execution of this orderly and secure transfer operation will help prevent an ISIS resurgence in Syria.” He used an acronym to refer to the Islamic State group.
The transfers have helped calm fears that the recent rounds of fighting in Syria between government forces and the SDF would allow the IS prisoners to flee from detention camps there and join militant sleeper cells that are still carrying out attacks in both Iraq and Syria.
Iraq is looking to put on trial some of the thousands of the IS detainees who were held for years in Syria without charges or access to the judicial system.
When IS declared a caliphate; a self-proclaimed territory under a traditional form of Islamic rule, in large parts of Syria and Iraq that the militant group seized in 2014, it attracted extremists from around the world.
From the caliphate, the extremists plotted attacks around the world that left hundreds dead from Europe to Arab countries and Asia.
As regional governments continue to grapple with the consequences of the group’s rise and fall, the handling of detainees remains a central test of both security coordination and judicial capacity in the Middle East.
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