Iraq Moves 4,500 ISIS Members from Syria to Secure Prisons

Iraqi authorities have successfully transferred 4,500 members of the terrorist organization ISIS from detention centers in Syria to secure facilities within Iraq. The move, described as a "bold strategic decision," aims to prevent potential prison breaks in unstable regions of Syria and ensure these individuals do not return to the battlefield.

Sabah al-Nu'man, spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, confirmed on Thursday that the operation was executed with "precise calculations." He noted that the detainees have been integrated into the Iraqi prison system without any security incidents or breaches.

Preventing a Resurgence

The decision comes in response to recent instability in Syria, which raised fears that ISIS militants could escape and reconstitute the group’s threat. Al-Nu'man explained that the Iraqi government acted to prevent these detainees from becoming a "time bomb" that could destabilize the region.

"Our security discourse has clarified the circumstances of this decision to block those who try to spread fear or evoke the dark narratives of 2014," al-Nu'man stated, referring to the year the group seized vast swaths of Iraqi territory.

International Cooperation and Responsibility

The transfer was conducted in coordination between Iraqi authorities and the Global Coalition against ISIS. The detainees are now held in maximum-security prisons under the full authority of the Ministry of Justice, subject to rigorous security protocols.

Despite Iraq's efforts, the government continues to call on foreign nations to repatriate their citizens among the ISIS detainees. Al-Nu'man highlighted that while the UN has urged countries to take responsibility for their nationals, the international response remains "weak."

As Iraq manages this significant security burden, officials warned that the presence of ISIS members and their families in Syrian camps remains a lingering danger, necessitating a more proactive legal and security commitment from the international community.