by Al-Fassel | 2026-02-12

The transfer of detainees from Syria's al-Hol camp to Iraq marks a decisive moment in the aftermath of ISIS's territorial defeat.

For years, the camp symbolized an unresolved security and humanitarian challenge, housing tens of thousands of individuals linked to the extremist group.

By receiving detainees on Iraqi soil and launching investigations, Baghdad is signaling that accountability will be pursued through its national institutions.

According to recent reports, US forces transported multiple groups of ISIS detainees from northeastern Syria to Iraq under a trilateral arrangement.

The agreement involves Iraqi authorities, local forces in Syria and US troops operating as a third-party facilitator in the transfer process.

Iraqi-led investigations

Officials say the operation could bring approximately 7,000 detainees into Iraqi custody, significantly expanding Baghdad's role in post-conflict justice efforts.

Iraqi authorities state that investigations begin immediately upon arrival, and that detainees are transferred to secure, regulated detention facilities.

Saad Maan, head of the Prime Minister's security information cell, said specialized teams are classifying detainees according to their assessed level of danger.

He added that confessions are being recorded under direct judicial supervision to ensure legal procedures meet Iraqi court standards.

The Iraqi judiciary announced it had opened investigations into 1,387 detainees for atrocities committed against Iraqi citizens.

Officials say the initial focus is on suspected supporters and facilitators of ISIS rather than lower-risk or coerced individuals.

Authorities argue that domestic trials allow courts to distinguish between hardened militants and those with indirect or limited involvement.

By assuming custody, Iraq is asserting sovereignty over one of the most complex legacies of the war against ISIS.

Asserting accountability and sovereignty

Officials have emphasized that those accused of crimes against Iraqis will be tried in competent Iraqi courts, not held indefinitely abroad.

The transfers come amid shifting security dynamics in northeastern Syria, where control arrangements and foreign military footprints are changing.

Analysts say these developments accelerated efforts to move detainees from temporary facilities into established national justice systems.

Iraq has also called on other countries to repatriate their citizens currently held among the detainee population.

By bringing suspects home, the government argues that domestic investigations offer the only sustainable path toward long-term regional stability.