Syria’s AANES hands 5 ISIS family members to Canada
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) handed two women and three children of Islamic State (ISIS) family members to a Canadian delegation according to an official repatriation document between the AANES and Canada.
This came in a meeting on Thursday between senior officials from the Canadian Foreign Ministry and the Foreign Relations Department of the AANES.
The delegation that included Rasta Daei, Head of Office of Embassy of Canada in Syria and Lebanon, was received by the deputy co-chair of the Foreign Relations Department, Rubel Baho, member of the executive committee, Khaled Ibrahim, and representative of the Woman’s Protection Units (YPJ), Lana Hussein.
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, eastern Syria, bringing an end to the so-called caliphate declared by the terrorist ISIS.
After Baghouz, thousands of ISIS fighters were transferred to prisons, while their families were transferred to Hawl and Roj camps in the AANES-held areas.
Issue of the family members of the ISIS held in camps in northeast Syria constitutes an ongoing challenge for the non-internationally recognized AANES, which repeatedly demands that the concerned countries repatriate their nationals.
During the meeting, Baho highlighted the issue of the map of the last the round of Astana Peace talks on Syria on June 20, which “will form several alliances against the Syrian people that will lead the Syrian crisis to a new face thus situation for each Syrian and the region will further complicate and worsen.”
Baho added that the only solution for the crisis in Syria is through intra-Syrian talks, calling on the international community to support the exerted efforts to solve the crisis and conflict in the country in accordance with the UN Resolution NO. 2254.
He stressed that Turkey continues threating the region, carrying out intensive attacks against civilians and the AANES employees via drones, and continuously shelling of the region in full view of the international community without any deterrent.
He also highlighted the issue of the AANES initiative to trial ISIS militants and the way the administration will organize these trials, calling on Canada and the international community to provide support to go ahead holding fair trials for these terrorists in order to solve their outstanding and worrying cases.
On June 10, the AANES announced that it would begin the trial of foreign ISIS fighters held in its prisons in line with international and local terrorism laws.
He stressed that the AANES will continue cooperating with Canada and all countries with citizens, including children, in northeast Syria.
Global Affairs Canada said in a statement on Thursday, “Canada remains steadfast in prioritizing the safety and security of its citizens, both at home and abroad, and has been particularly concerned about the health and well-being of Canadian children in northeastern Syria.”
The statement added, “Canada extends its gratitude to the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria for its cooperation in conducting another operation under difficult security circumstances.”
The AANES was first formed in 2014 in the Kurdish-majority regions of Afrin, Kobani and Jazira in northern Syria following the withdrawal of the government forces. Later, it was expanded to Manbij, Tabqa, Raqqa, Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor after the SDF defeated ISIS militarily there.