Why Iraq focuses on Hawl camp
ERBIL, KRI, Iraq (North Press) – Iraqi analysts have spoken out about the factors that are pushing Iraq to focus on the issue of Hawl camp in northeast Syria, including geographical and human factors, as well as other reasons.
Amid refusal of some countries to repatriate their nationals from the Hawl Camp, Iraq remains one of the countries that expresses concern about the danger of the camp and continues to demand in most international and local forums concerned with it, to dismantle it, after describing it more than once as a “time bomb”.
The latest Iraqi demand came on June 18, as Qasim al-Araji, Iraqi National Security Advisor, called the international community to urge countries to repatriate their nationals from the camp. He also proposed holding a ministerial international conference to find a way to close this camp.
Mufeed al-Sa’adi, an Iraqi security researcher, commented on the Iraqi escalation in highlighting the dangers of the camp, saying that the shared geographical arena between Syria and Iraq, which witnessed the expansion of the Islamic State (ISIS) in both countries, is sufficient reason to make Iraq concerned about the future of the camp.
Al-Sa’adi told North Press that the large number of families, a majority of them affiliated with ISIS, poses a danger to the future security of the region.
This is why Iraq has implored the international community to dismantle the camp before it is too late, he added.
Hawl Camp is home to just under 50,000 people, over half of whom are Iraqis.
ISIS lost its final stronghold in Syria in March 2019. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) with the support of the US-led Global Coalition, defeated ISIS after fierce battles in the town of Baghouz in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, bringing an end to the ISIS so-called caliphate.
After Baghouz, thousands of ISIS fighters were transferred to prisons, while their families were transferred to the Hawl and Roj camps in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES)-held areas.
Iraq announced the latest number of returnees from the camp, which reached 5,569 people, or 1,393 families, and were returned in ten batches.
Additionally, Iraq, in coordination with administrative and security authorities of the AANES, repatriated more than 3,000 ISIS militants who were being held in the region’s detention camps.
Although Iraq officially announced the number of returnees, it has avoided discussing the mechanism of coordination and the parties involved.
A security source told North Press, under the condition of anonymity, that coordination is known to be carried out through the relevant parties in northeast Syria, in coordination with the US-led Global coalition to defeat ISIS.
Iraqi officials face a problem when speaking to the media about coordination, as it is done away from the eyes and decisions of the Syrian government, while official international protocols require them to deal formally with the government, not with an unrecognized entity like the AANES.
Therefore, what matters to Iraq, regardless of the party it is dealing with, is the repatriation of its nationals and to encourage other countries to do the same, according to the source.
Political researcher Dr Ihsan al-Shammari told North Press that the majority of people in the Hawl camp are Iraqis, which puts pressure on Baghdad, especially due to the shortage of resources for their rehabilitation and integration into society.
In addition to the nature of legal restrictions that may affect some families, which criminalize anyone who is affiliated with or supports the group, this poses a “social problem when considering the tribal nature, and thus unexpected incidents such as tribal revenge,” according to al-Shammari.
He also said that one of the reasons for Iraqi concern is the possibility of these families affecting the regions, as they hold an ideology that can contribute to the eruption of violence in the area at any moment.
Al-Shammari also mentioned the geographical nature that facilitates the movement of ISIS militants to and from Syria, in light of existing security gaps.
Al-Shammari believes that Iraq needs international cooperation that has not yet been completed. These requirements prompted Iraq to hold a meeting with representatives, missions, and the United Nations regarding this matter in Baghdad.
The danger also lies in the reluctance of other countries to repatriate their ISIS-related nationals in the camps and prisons. Third-country nationals number over 10,000 across the two camps, many are suspected of various crimes.
Canada and Britain are among the countries that have so far pushed the can down the road, passing restrictions barring such repatriations as violations of their laws.
Al-Sa’adi said that regardless of other factors that impose the repatriation of families, there is a humanitarian issue that deserves attention alongside security challenges.
Iraq and Syria have already suffered under ISIS, which makes the camp a threat to both countries. Therefore, Iraq is focusing on not making this camp a factor in that threat, al-Sa’adi added.