4,583 ISIS members were transferred from Syria to Iraq in coordination with the US-led international coalition. These are among up to seven thousand detainees from the extremist organization. Last month, the US Central Command (Centcom) announced the start of their transfer in a move it said was aimed at "ensuring that terrorists remain in secure detention facilities."

Published on: 02/10/2026 - 11:44

The number of ISIS members that Iraq has received so far has reached 4,583 individuals. They were detained in Syria, and the US army began transferring them last month.

Head of the Security Media Cell, Saad Maan, told Agence France-Presse on Tuesday that “Iraq had received, as of yesterday, Monday, 4,583” members of the organization detained in Syria.

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Maan confirmed on Saturday that the transfer operations are taking place "by land and air in coordination with the international coalition" led by Washington since 2014 to fight the organization.

Last week, the Iraqi judiciary announced the initiation of investigation procedures with 1,387 detainees received as part of the US army operation.

These are among up to seven thousand detainees from the extremist organization. Last month, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the start of their transfer from Syria to Iraq, in a move it said aims to "ensure that terrorists remain in secure detention facilities."

In neighboring Syria, where the organization was defeated in 2019, thousands of people suspected of belonging to jihadist groups and their families, including foreigners, were detained in prisons and camps run by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Among the detainees who were transferred to Iraq were Syrians, Iraqis, Europeans, and other nationalities, according to Iraqi security sources. Iraq calls on the countries concerned to repatriate their citizens and ensure their prosecution.

The announcement of the plan to transfer the organization's members to Iraq came last month after the American envoy to Damascus, Tom Barrack, announced that the SDF's role in confronting the extremist organization had ended.

In recent years, Iraqi courts have issued death sentences and life imprisonment against those convicted of belonging to a "terrorist group" in terrorism cases and the killing of hundreds of people. Thousands of Iraqis and foreigners convicted of belonging to the organization remain in Iraq's prisons.

The "Islamic State" organization controlled large areas in northern and western Iraq starting in 2014, until the Iraqi forces were able to defeat it in 2017, with the support of the international coalition. Iraq is still recovering from the effects of the severe violations it committed.

France 24/AFP

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