US Completes Transfer of Over 5,700 ISIS Detainees from Syria to Iraqi Custody

WASHINGTON, Feb 14: The United States has completed a 23-day operation transferring more than 5,700 adult male ISIS (Daesh) fighters from detention facilities in northeastern Syria to Iraqi custody, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Friday.

The transfer mission began on Jan. 21 and concluded with a nighttime flight from northeastern Syria to Iraq on Feb. 12, according to a CENTCOM statement. The operation aimed to ensure the detainees remain securely held and to prevent a resurgence of ISIS in Syria.

“Job well done to the entire Joint Force team who executed this exceptionally challenging mission on the ground and in the air with great focus, professionalism, and collaboration with our regional partners,” said Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander. He also praised Iraq’s leadership, noting that transferring the detainees is essential to regional security.

The operation was led by US and coalition forces under the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), which was established in 2014 to advise, assist, and enable partner forces in the fight against ISIS. ISIS was territorially defeated in 2019, but the coalition continues to monitor and secure former fighters to prevent renewed threats.

“I am extremely proud of the coalition’s exceptional work,” said US Army Maj. Gen. Kevin Lambert, CJTF-OIR commander. “The successful execution of this orderly and secure transfer operation will help prevent an ISIS resurgence in Syria.”

CENTCOM emphasized that the operation required close coordination with regional partners and careful planning to ensure the detainees’ secure transport by both land and air.