Iraq receives 150 IS detainees from Syria

Baghdad: Iraq has received the first 150 Islamic State (IS) detainees previously held in Syria’s prisons, the Iraqi authorities have announced.

The detainees, identified as Iraqi and foreign nationals deeply involved in killing Iraqi civilians, were previously held in prisons under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces, according to a statement by Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, on Wednesday (local time).

They were handed over in coordination with the international coalition tasked with fighting IS and will be transferred to official state correctional institutions, the statement added, noting the number and timing of further transfers will depend on ongoing security assessments, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the detainees were moved from a detention facility in Hasakah, Syria, to a secure location in Iraq. The transfer is part of a broader plan that could eventually see up to 7,000 IS detainees relocated to Iraqi-controlled facilities.

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CENTCOM said in a statement that facilitating the orderly and secure transfer is critical to preventing a breakout that would pose a direct threat to the United States and regional security.

Over the past year, US and partner forces have captured over 300 IS members across Syria and killed more than 20 others, CENTCOM added.

Adrian Shtuni, an associate fellow with the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism think tank, said that as of 2025, 21 years after the founding of IS, its territorial presence in Iraq and Syria had diminished significantly.

At its height, IS fielded up to 80,000 militants, including more than 42,000 foreign terrorist fighters from over 120 countries. In contrast, by mid-2025, estimates suggest only 1,500 to 3,000 fighters remain active in Syria and Iraq, said the researcher, noting that the threat persists globally.