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U.S. Completes Urgent Transfer of Thousands of ISIS Detainees from Syria to Iraq
Nearly 6,000 ISIS detainees, described by U.S. intelligence officials as “the worst of the worst,” have been successfully transferred from unstable detention facilities in northern Syria to Iraqi custody in a multi-agency operation that officials say prevented a catastrophic security breach.
“If these 6,000 or so got out and returned to the battlefield, that would basically be the instant reconstitution of ISIS,” a senior U.S. intelligence official told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview detailing the high-stakes evacuation.
The transfer operation began taking shape in late October when Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard assessed that Syria’s deteriorating security situation could lead to prison breaks and the escape of dangerous militants. The intelligence community immediately dispatched officials to Syria and Iraq to begin preliminary discussions about removing the most dangerous detainees before chaos engulfed the region.
These concerns intensified in early January as fighting erupted in Aleppo and began spreading eastward toward detention facilities. “We saw this severe crisis situation,” the intelligence official said, highlighting the urgency that drove the subsequent operation.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence coordinated daily calls across multiple agencies as the situation escalated. Secretary of State Marco Rubio managed policy considerations while ODNI led a working group that kept CENTCOM, diplomats, and intelligence officials aligned on the critical question of how to prevent thousands of ISIS fighters from escaping.
Iraq’s government proved receptive to the plan, recognizing that a mass breakout across their border could revive a threat they remembered all too vividly from 2014, when ISIS controlled significant territory in both Syria and Iraq. Baghdad had strong motivation to act quickly, with officials fearing a return to what one U.S. official characterized as a “2014 ISIS is on our border situation once more.”
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad played a crucial diplomatic role, while CENTCOM provided the logistical muscle, deploying helicopters and other resources to physically move detainees within a compressed timeframe. “Thanks to the efforts… moving in helicopters, moving in more resources, and then just logistically making this happen, we were able to get these nearly 6,000 out in the course of just a few weeks,” the intelligence official explained.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led militia that had been guarding the prisons, faced increasing pressure as fighting intensified elsewhere in the country. U.S. officials feared that even a single prison breach could quickly escalate into a mass escape. The detainees are now held at a facility near Baghdad International Airport under Iraqi authority.
The operation now enters a new phase focused on identification and accountability. FBI teams are working in Iraq to enroll detainees biometrically, while U.S. and Iraqi officials determine what intelligence can be declassified for use in prosecutions. “What they were asking us for, basically, is giving them as much intelligence and information that we have on these individuals,” the official said.
Simultaneously, the State Department is conducting outreach to encourage countries to repatriate their citizens who joined ISIS and are now among the detainees. “State Department is doing outreach right now and encouraging all these different countries to come and pick up their fighters,” the intelligence official noted.
While the transfer operation successfully moved male ISIS fighters, it did not address the thousands of women and children being held in camps such as al-Hol. The Syrian government has reportedly taken over these camps following agreements with the SDF, but U.S. officials express concern about reports that Damascus may be releasing some detainees.
“As you can see from social media, the al-Hol camp is pretty much being emptied out,” the official said, adding that it “appears the Syrian government has decided to let them go free,” a development described as “very concerning” for regional security.
The fate of ISIS-affiliated families represents one of the most complex challenges in dismantling the terrorist group’s legacy. Many children have grown up in detention camps since ISIS lost territorial control, and some are now approaching fighting age, raising fears about future radicalization.
Despite these ongoing concerns, U.S. intelligence agencies view the transfer operation as a crucial success that prevented thousands of experienced ISIS militants from potentially reconstituting the group’s fighting force. “This is a rare good news story coming out of Syria,” the official concluded.
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8 Comments
This is a critical operation to prevent a disastrous security breach. Transferring the most dangerous ISIS detainees from unstable prisons in Syria to secure facilities in Iraq was absolutely necessary to mitigate the threat of a large-scale prison break and the return of these militants to the battlefield.
Kudos to the U.S. intelligence and military teams for carrying out this high-stakes evacuation safely and effectively. Securing these detainees is vital for regional stability and preventing the resurgence of ISIS.
I’m curious to know more about the specific intelligence that triggered this urgent transfer operation. What were the signs that a major prison break attempt was imminent, and how were the logistics of relocating thousands of detainees coordinated between the U.S., Syria, and Iraq?
This news underscores the ongoing challenges in the fight against ISIS, even as the group has lost much of its former territory. Maintaining secure detention facilities for captured militants remains a critical priority to prevent their return to the battlefield.
The decision to transfer these detainees from Syria to Iraq seems prudent, given the deteriorating security situation in parts of northern Syria. Safeguarding these high-risk prisoners is essential to containing the ISIS threat in the region.
While the successful transfer of these ISIS detainees is a positive development, it also raises concerns about the long-term management and rehabilitation of such a large number of hardened militants. Careful planning and international cooperation will be crucial to prevent future breakout attempts.
This operation highlights the ongoing threat posed by ISIS and the need for continued vigilance and cooperation between nations to combat the group’s remnants. Though a major prison break was averted, the situation remains volatile in parts of Syria and Iraq.
It’s alarming to hear that nearly 6,000 of the “worst of the worst” ISIS fighters were being held in unstable detention facilities. The successful transfer is a significant achievement in preventing a catastrophic security breach.