US Initiates Transfer of Islamic State Prisoners from Syria to Iraq

Thu Jan 22 2026 01:46:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The US military has begun a mission to transfer thousands of Islamic State prisoners from northeastern Syria to Iraq amid concerns over potential security threats as Syrian government forces regain control in the region.

In a strategic move, the US military starts transferring up to 7,000 Islamic State fighters from Syria to Iraq to thwart possible breakouts that may threaten regional security. As Syrian forces take control of areas previously held by Kurdish-led factions, the situation in prisons becomes increasingly unstable. Recent clashes and a ceasefire announcement highlight the shifting dynamics in the region.

The US military has launched a mission to transfer up to 7,000 Islamic State (IS) group fighters from prisons in north-eastern Syria to Iraq, as Syrian government forces take control of areas long controlled by Kurdish-led forces.

US Central Command said it had already moved 150 IS fighters from Hassakeh province to a secure location in Iraq. The move aims to prevent a breakout that would pose a direct threat to the United States and regional security, it added.

On Tuesday night, Syria's government announced a new ceasefire with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) after the militia alliance withdrew from al-Hol camp, which holds thousands of IS fighters' relatives.

Separately on Wednesday, Syria's defense ministry stated that seven soldiers were killed in a drone attack attributed to Kurdish forces in Hasakah. Both the government and the SDF blamed each other for the escape of IS fighters from an SDF-run prison in Shaddadi.

Syria's interior ministry reported that its special forces had entered Shaddadi following the escape of about 120 IS terrorists. Search operations conducted by security forces led to the arrest of 81 fugitives.

Following intense clashes, the SDF lost control of Shaddadi prison after government-affiliated factions mounted assaults that resulted in numerous casualties on both sides.

Despite being weakened, IS continues to be active in Syria, mainly targeting Kurdish-led forces in the northeast. US special envoy Tom Barrack noted a shift in focus for the US, as the rationale for the US-SDF partnership has largely expired. The US now aims to secure IS prisoner facilities and facilitate dialogue between the SDF and the Syrian government.

In a broader context, this moment could pave the way for a unified Syrian state, with full citizenship rights and political participation long denied under Bashar al-Assad's regime.

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