The U.S. military has initiated the transfer of up to 7,000 Islamic State (IS) group detainees from prisons in northeastern Syria to Iraq, according to U.S. Central Command (Centcom). The move comes as the Syrian government assumes control of areas previously administered autonomously by Kurdish-led forces.
Centcom reported that it had already moved 150 IS fighters from Hassakeh province to a "secure location" in Iraq. The stated objective of the transfer is to prevent prisoners from escaping and potentially regrouping, posing a continued threat to regional stability.
The transfer is a consequence of a recent ceasefire agreement that has placed much of northeastern Syria under the control of Damascus. This agreement followed the withdrawal of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from key areas, including detention sites housing thousands of IS suspects and their relatives.
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of Centcom, discussed the transfers with Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa. According to Centcom, Cooper emphasized the importance of Syrian forces upholding the ceasefire and avoiding any actions that could disrupt the "orderly and secure transfer" of detainees.
The situation raises complex ethical and legal questions regarding the detention and prosecution of individuals associated with IS. Rights group Reprieve has voiced concerns about the detainees' fate, particularly regarding due process and the potential for human rights abuses. The legal framework governing the transfer and subsequent handling of these prisoners remains a subject of ongoing debate.
The transfer highlights the evolving dynamics in the region and the ongoing efforts to manage the aftermath of the conflict with IS. The long-term implications of this transfer for regional security and stability are yet to be fully understood. The U.S. military will likely continue these transfers in the coming weeks.
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