Europe Asia News

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on January 21 launched a new mission to transfer ISIS detainees from northeastern Syria to Iraq in order to ensure they are held in secure detention facilities.

The transfer mission began after U.S. forces moved 150 ISIS detainees held at a detention facility in the city of Hasakah in northeastern Syria to a secure location in Iraq. As a result, up to 7,000 ISIS detainees could be transferred from Syria to facilities under Iraqi control.

CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said: “We are closely coordinating with our regional partners, including the Iraqi government, and we sincerely appreciate the role they play in the enduring defeat of ISIS. Facilitating the orderly and secure transfer of ISIS detainees is critical to preventing an escape that would pose a direct threat to U.S. and regional security.”