US Begins Moving 7,000 ISIS Detainees to Iraq

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has initiated a high-stakes logistical and security operation to transfer thousands of ISIS detainees from northeastern Syria to secure facilities in Iraq. The mission, launched on January 21, represents a critical preemptive measure designed to prevent mass prison breaks as the security architecture in Syria undergoes rapid transformation following the recent integration deal between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Damascus government.
The operation commenced with the successful transport of 150 ISIS fighters from a detention center in Hasakah, Syria, to a secure location across the Iraqi border. According to CENTCOM, this initial movement is just the first phase of a broader strategy that could ultimately see up to 7,000 hardened militants relocated. The urgency of the mission stems from fears that the dissolving autonomy of the SDF and the shifting frontlines could create security vacuums that ISIS remnants might exploit to stage escapes.
“Facilitating the orderly and secure transfer of ISIS detainees is critical to preventing a breakout that would pose a direct threat to the United States and regional security,” said Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander. He emphasized that the operation is being conducted in close coordination with the Iraqi government, whose cooperation is essential for the legal and physical custody of the prisoners.
The detainees in question are among the most dangerous remnants of the “Caliphate,” captured during years of grinding combat. Keeping them securely locked away has been a persistent challenge for the resource-strapped SDF, which has managed a sprawling network of makeshift prisons often vulnerable to riots and external attacks. In 2025 alone, U.S. and partner forces detained more than 300 additional ISIS operatives and killed over 20 in Syria, adding to an already overflowing prison population.
This mass transfer aligns with the broader geopolitical realignment in the region. With the SDF preparing to integrate into the Syrian Army under the recent 14-point agreement with Damascus, the U.S. appears to be ensuring that high-value prisoners remain under the supervision of a stable partner state—Iraq—rather than being handed over to the Syrian regime or left in limbo during the transition.
The logistical complexity of moving thousands of terrorists across an international border is immense. The operation requires heavily armored convoys, air support, and rigorous vetting to ensure that no high-level commanders slip through the cracks. It also places a significant burden on Iraq’s judicial and penal systems, which will now be responsible for processing and housing thousands of foreign and regional fighters who have been in legal limbo for years.
For Washington, this move is a final “cleanup” of its legacy in northeast Syria, ensuring that the physical threat of an ISIS resurgence is neutralized before the political landscape shifts completely.