U.S. military completes transfer of 5,700 IS detainees from Syria to Iraq

The U.S. military has completed a major security operation transferring over 5,700 Islamic State group detainees from Syria to Iraq, where they will eventually face trial, according to an announcement from U.S. Central Command on Friday.

The transfer, which began on January 21, involved moving adult male IS suspects from detention facilities in northeastern Syria to Iraqi custody. The operation was conducted at the request of the Iraqi government and received strong support from the U.S.-led coalition that has long battled the extremist group.

“We appreciate Iraq’s leadership and recognition that transferring the detainees is essential to regional security,” said Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, in an official statement.

Iraq’s National Center for International Judicial Cooperation confirmed that the 5,704 transferred suspects represent 61 countries. While most are Syrian or Iraqi nationals, the group includes foreign fighters from Europe, Australia, Canada, and the United States, among other countries.

Over a three-week period, U.S. military personnel escorted the detainees from facilities operated by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to Baghdad. These prisons in northeastern Syria have been a constant security concern, particularly given the region’s volatile political situation.

The transfer addresses growing concerns that ongoing conflicts in Syria between government forces and the SDF could potentially lead to prison breaks, allowing IS militants to escape and rejoin sleeper cells still active throughout Iraq and Syria. Such escapes would pose a significant threat to the fragile security situation in both countries.

Iraq now faces the complex challenge of processing and trying thousands of detainees who have been held in Syria for years without formal charges or access to judicial proceedings. This raises questions about legal jurisdiction, evidence collection, and the capacity of Iraq’s judicial system to handle such a large number of cases.

The Islamic State group rose to global prominence in 2014 when it declared a caliphate across large swaths of Syria and Iraq, establishing a self-proclaimed territory under a strict interpretation of Islamic rule. This declaration attracted thousands of extremists and foreign fighters from around the world who traveled to join the militant organization.

During its height, IS used this territory as a base to plan and execute attacks worldwide, resulting in hundreds of casualties across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The group became known for its brutal tactics, including public executions, sexual slavery, and the destruction of cultural heritage sites.

“The successful execution of this orderly and secure transfer operation will help prevent an ISIS resurgence in Syria,” said U.S. Army Major General Kevin Lambert, commander of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, which led the mission planning, coordination, and execution.

This transfer represents a significant development in the ongoing effort to address the legacy of the Islamic State group, which, despite losing its territorial caliphate in 2019, continues to pose a security threat through its network of sleeper cells and affiliated groups across the region.

The international community now watches closely to see how Iraq will handle the judicial proceedings for such a diverse group of detainees, many of whom have been held for years without trial. Questions remain about evidence preservation, legal standards, and whether foreign nationals will face prosecution in Iraq or be repatriated to their home countries.

For regional stability, the successful prosecution of these detainees represents an important step in achieving justice for the victims of IS atrocities while preventing further radicalization within detention facilities.