Iraq receives 160 Turkish citizens among transferred ISIS members

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

BAGHDAD, IRAQ — Iraqi officials confirmed the receipt of 160 Turkish nationals among over 5,000 ISIS members transferred from Syria under U.S. military supervision. The massive relocation operation, initiated last month from areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), aims to transfer a total of 7,000 detainees to Iraqi prisons following a recent security agreement.

According to an unnamed Iraqi official cited by AFP, the transfer includes a diverse group of foreign fighters and their families, with the majority being Syrian nationals. The operation follows the political transition in Syria, where the new government led by Ahmed Shara agreed to the handover of detention centers previously managed by the SDF.

Extradition negotiations with Turkey

Iraqi Minister of Justice Khaled Shwani addressed the status of the detainees, clarifying that the current number of Turkish citizens transferred stands at 165, refuting claims that Turkey had requested the return of 2,500 individuals. Shwani indicated that Baghdad remains in diplomatic talks with Ankara regarding the future of these detainees.

"If these individuals have not committed crimes within Iraq or targeted Iraqis, there is a tendency to extradite them," Shwani told Rudaw, emphasizing that this policy applies to all countries, not solely Turkey.

Global breakdown of detainees

The 5,046 individuals transferred so far include 3,245 Syrians, 271 Iraqis, and 130 Russian nationals alongside the Turkish group. The data indicates that 610 detainees originated from Arab nations, including Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, more than 900 individuals are from Europe, Asia, and Australia. German citizens comprise the largest European group with 27 individuals, followed by 13 Australians, 10 Dutch, and 9 British nationals.

Security measures for high-value targets

Justice Ministry officials confirmed that the transferees include high-ranking ISIS "emirs" and individuals classified as "very dangerous". These high-profile detainees are currently being held in high-security isolation cells to prevent any security breaches or coordination within the prison system.

ISIS, which was declared territorially defeated in Iraq in 2017 and Syria in 2019, left behind thousands of fighters and family members in detention camps, the management of which has been a long-standing international issue.

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