US transfers 150 ISIS militants from Syria to Iraq, plans to increase number to 7,000

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Wednesday that it has transferred 150 Islamic State (ISIS) militants from northeastern Syria to Iraq, planning to increase the numbe to 7,000.

“The transfer mission began as US forces successfully transported 150 ISIS fighters held at a detention facility in Hasakah, Syria, to a secure location in Iraq,” CENTCOM said in a statement. “Ultimately, up to 7,000 ISIS detainees could be transferred from Syria to Iraqi-controlled facilities.”

CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the operation was conducted in close coordination with regional partners, including the Iraqi government.

“We sincerely appreciate their role in ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS,” he said.

“Facilitating the orderly and secure transfer of ISIS detainees is critical to preventing a breakout that would pose a direct threat to the United States and regional security,” Cooper added.

In the same statement, CENTCOM said US and partner forces detained more than 300 ISIS operatives in Syria and killed over 20 others during the same period.

The move comes a day after the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Tuesday that they had withdrawn their forces from the al-Hol camp, which houses ISIS-affiliated individuals, following “fierce clashes” with Damascus-affiliated armed groups in the surrounding area.

The al-Hol camp, located southeast of Hasaka in northeastern Syria (Rojava), was previously managed by the SDF and its affiliated Internal Security Forces (Asayish). The camp hosted tens of thousands of people, including the spouses and children of former ISIS militants.

Sheikhmous Ahmed, head of the camps department for internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugees in Rojava, told Rudaw English on Tuesday that “a total of 7,130 families - 25,183 individuals - were held at al-Hol camp prior to the SDF’s withdrawal.” He added that “it remains unclear how many detainees have fled and who currently controls the camp.”

Earlier on Monday, the SDF said it had lost control of another detention facility holding ISIS militants - the al-Shaddadi prison in southern Hasaka - to Damascus-affiliated forces and armed groups.

SDF spokesperson Farhad Shami told Rudaw that around “1,500 ISIS militants, including both foreign and Syrian nationals, have been released” by Damascus-affiliated armed groups from the al-Shaddadi facility.

Separately, an SDF source speaking to Rudaw on condition of anonymity said on Tuesday that clashes with Damascus-affiliated forces had intensified for a second consecutive day around another detention center - the al-Aqtan prison in Raqqa - which holds approximately 2,000 ISIS detainees.

In response to the unfolding situation, Iraq has been reinforcing security along its border with Syria for several days amid concerns over potential infiltration by ISIS elements.