US Central Command Begins Transfer of ISIS Prisoners from Syria to Iraq
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has officially commenced the mission to transfer ISIS detainees from northeastern Syria to Iraq, aiming to prevent prisoner escapes and reduce security threats.
According to a CENTCOM statement, the mission began on Wednesday, January 22, with the transfer of 150 ISIS prisoners from a detention center in the city of Hasakah, Syria, to a secure facility in Iraq. The command stated that approximately seven thousand ISIS detainees are planned to be moved from Syria to Iraqi-controlled centers as part of this program.
Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, described the systematic and secure transfer of ISIS prisoners as “vital” to prevent possible escapes, emphasizing that any escape could pose a direct threat to US security and regional stability.
He added that CENTCOM is conducting this operation in full coordination with regional partners, especially the Iraqi government, and expressed appreciation for their role in ensuring ISIS’s defeat.
CENTCOM further stated that throughout 2025, US forces, in cooperation with regional partners, detained more than 300 ISIS members in Syria and killed over 20 militants from the group.
This mission launched amid recent reports of 120 ISIS members escaping from a prison in eastern Syria, an event that has heightened concerns about the security of detention facilities holding these prisoners.
