US begins mass transfer of ISIL-linked detainees from Syria to Iraq, amid shifting power dynamics.
In a move aimed at strengthening its counter-terrorism efforts, the United States has commenced the large-scale transfer of individuals linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) from northeastern Syria to Iraq. The initial batch of 150 detainees was transferred from a facility in Hasakah, Syria, to a secure location in Iraq.
As the Syrian government solidifies its control over previously Kurdish-held territories, including areas housing camps and prisons containing ISIS fighters and their families, the US military is working to offload these individuals to Iraqi-controlled facilities. The operation underscores the evolving security landscape in the region, with the US seeking to mitigate potential threats emanating from mass breakouts.
The transfer of up to 7,000 detainees is seen as a critical measure to prevent such incidents, according to Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US forces in the Middle East. Cooper emphasized the importance of facilitating secure transfers, which he believes will help maintain regional stability and counter terrorism.
This development comes on the heels of the US special envoy to Syria announcing a shift in its strategy, with the government now taking the lead against ISIS rather than the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which had long been involved in combating the group. The Iraqi government has also approved the transfer, with spokesperson Sabah al-Numan stating that the transferred detainees will be held in government-run correctional institutions.
The transfer process is expected to further consolidate the power dynamics in northeastern Syria and strengthen the US's counter-terrorism efforts in Iraq, where ISIS sleeper cells continue to carry out attacks.
In a move aimed at strengthening its counter-terrorism efforts, the United States has commenced the large-scale transfer of individuals linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) from northeastern Syria to Iraq. The initial batch of 150 detainees was transferred from a facility in Hasakah, Syria, to a secure location in Iraq.
As the Syrian government solidifies its control over previously Kurdish-held territories, including areas housing camps and prisons containing ISIS fighters and their families, the US military is working to offload these individuals to Iraqi-controlled facilities. The operation underscores the evolving security landscape in the region, with the US seeking to mitigate potential threats emanating from mass breakouts.
The transfer of up to 7,000 detainees is seen as a critical measure to prevent such incidents, according to Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US forces in the Middle East. Cooper emphasized the importance of facilitating secure transfers, which he believes will help maintain regional stability and counter terrorism.
This development comes on the heels of the US special envoy to Syria announcing a shift in its strategy, with the government now taking the lead against ISIS rather than the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which had long been involved in combating the group. The Iraqi government has also approved the transfer, with spokesperson Sabah al-Numan stating that the transferred detainees will be held in government-run correctional institutions.
The transfer process is expected to further consolidate the power dynamics in northeastern Syria and strengthen the US's counter-terrorism efforts in Iraq, where ISIS sleeper cells continue to carry out attacks.