By Anas al-Bar | 2025-02-07

Iraq is entering a new phase in its efforts to repatriate "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) family members held in camps and prisons in Syria administered by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The Iraqi government and the United Nations have agreed to repatriate all families linked to ISIS elements from Syria's al-Hol camp by 2027, the New Arab reported February 2.

The government seeks a "speedy resolution" to the return of its citizens, Deputy Minister of Migration Karim al-Nouri told Al-Fassel.

During a review of the repatriation process, "recommendations were made for starting a new phase of service and security efforts to repatriate the rest of the displaced," he said.

A high-level committee comprised of officials from the ministry, national security, intelligence and military is directing the operation to repatriate Iraqis who have not been convicted of a terrorism offense, al-Nouri said.

Efforts are focused on "settling the status of these displaced people by returning them to their homeland and giving them the opportunity to reintegrate into their original areas and removing any challenges that stand in the way," he said.

Steady repatriation

Iraq has been steadily repatriating its citizens from al-Hol and other camps in Syria in coordination with the SDF and international coalition.

The end goal is to shut down al-Hol, an overcrowded and troubled camp which ISIS remnants have been attempting to use as an incubator.

To date, 19 groups of Iraqi women and children have been transported to al-Jadaa camp near Mosul, with the 700 most recent arrivals -- the first following the fall of the Syrian regime -- entering the camp January 11.

The number of Iraqis in al-Hol has fallen from 27,000 to fewer than 17,000, per Iraq's Ministry of Migration and Displacement.

At al-Jadaa, arrivals from al-Hol undergo a rehabilitation period of up to a year, before returning to their hometowns.

In Anbar province alone, 830 eligible families have been reintegrated into the community, with others returning to Ninawa, Salaheddeine and Diyala provinces.

Ensuring Iraqi's security

In televised remarks, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said Syria’s stability will directly impact Iraq’s security, warning that some 10,000 to 12,000 ISIS elements are held in jails run by the SDF, Asharq al-Awsat reported February 2.

The repatriation of ISIS fighters remains a thorny international issue. Iraq has repatriated ISIS elements in the past in coordination with the SDF, and seeks to ensure that ISIS elements who remain in prisons in Syria are not able to escape or cross into its territory.

Securing the border with Syria is a top priority for Iraq.

"Iraq has real concerns over the presence of these terrorists and their families close to its territory," security expert Fadel Abu Raghif told Al-Fassel.

In late December, Iraqi intelligence chief Hamid al-Shatri visited the new government in Syria in "a clear signal of Baghdad’s commitment to border control and counter-terrorism efforts," Shafaq News reported.