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6h ago

U.S. Starts ISIS Detainee Transfers to Iraq After Syrian Gains

Iraq requested the move to reduce breakout risks following the SDF’s retreat.

Syrian government forces with their luggage wait to enter the al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria's Hasakeh province, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, after the withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
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Syrian govt takes control of camp housing Islamic State group families
People climb over the damaged Al-Rashid Bridge, with some crossing on foot, after it was destroyed as Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces withdrew, a day after Syrian government forces took control of the area on the outskirts of Raqqa, northeastern Syria, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Overview

  • U.S. Central Command said 150 detainees were moved from Hasakah to Iraq, with up to 7,000 transfers possible.
  • Iraqi officials confirmed Baghdad proactively offered to take custody and has begun receiving detainees for prosecution.
  • Syrian forces entered Al-Hol camp after the SDF withdrew and the Interior Ministry says it now controls al-Aqtan prison in Raqqa.
  • UNHCR has assumed management of the camps and is coordinating with Damascus to restore humanitarian access as conditions remain tense.
  • Accounts of a jailbreak at al-Shaddadi differ, with estimates ranging from 120 to about 200 escapees and many reportedly recaptured.