U.S. Transfers 5,700+ ISIS Detainees from Syria to Iraq

The U.S. military has completed the transfer of more than 5,700 Islamic State group detainees from prisons in northeastern Syria to Iraqi custody, where they are expected to face trials, U.S. Central Command announced Friday. The operation, which began on January 21, involved escorting the adult male suspects over three weeks to Baghdad at the request of the Iraqi government.

U.S. forces coordinated the transfers from detention facilities operated by the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. The detainees represent 60 different nationalities and had been held for years without formal charges or access to a judicial system. The move addresses longstanding concerns about the security of these facilities amid ongoing conflicts in the region.

The transfers come as a welcome development for the U.S.-led coalition that has combated the Islamic State group since its peak. "We appreciate Iraq's leadership and recognition that transferring the detainees is essential to regional security," said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command. The operation was led by the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, which handled planning, coordination, and execution.