DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Amid Syria’s shifting political and security landscape, a highly complex and sensitive issue has resurfaced — the fate of Iraqi militants detained in Syrian prisons.
Once welcomed as allies fighting alongside Iranian-backed militias during the Syrian war, many of these men now find themselves behind bars, caught between two governments and tangled regional interests.
From battlefields to unknown cells
Field information indicates that most of these militants entered Syria with direct support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as part of Tehran’s broader strategy to bolster the Assad regime’s military position.
However, as power dynamics shifted and new forces took control, these Iraqi fighters — once allies of Damascus — became its prisoners.
“When the battles in Deir ez-Zor began, we fought side by side with groups of Iraqi fighters supported by Iran, many of whom belonged to Iraqi Hezbollah factions,” Ali al-Ali (a pseudonym), a former Syrian fighter in the ranks of Iranian-backed militias in Deir ez-Zor, told North Press.
“At first, the relationship was cooperative, but as events unfolded, their true ambitions and objectives in Syria started to appear,” he said.
“The relationship was complicated. They came from Iraq to support us, but their loyalties were conflicted. We fought for Syria, while many of them followed a different agenda driven by Iran. After the regime fell, most could not return to Iraq and ended up in prison. Some were released after settlements, but the majority are still enduring harsh conditions behind bars.”
Voices from behind bars
Haider al-Othman, an Iraqi militant from al-Qa’im, recently released from a Syrian prison, recounted his experience saying, “I was a member of Iraqi Hezbollah and was transferred to Syria after the area was liberated from ISIS. When the regime collapsed, we could not escape. The Iraqi border was closed, and I was arrested without trial or clear charges. The prison conditions were brutal.”
“Our government knows about us. We came to Syria under its orders. We heard about negotiations between the two countries to release detainees, but I was surprised when I was freed after they confirmed I was not involved in war crimes. I now live in Abu Kamal with my family, but I cannot return to Iraq for fear of being pursued by Iraqi Hezbollah,” he added.
Public division and human rights perspective
The issue of Iraqi militants detained in Syria has sparked wide public debate. Some Syrians see them as supporters of a repressive regime and therefore complicit in its crimes, while others regard them as victims of regional proxy wars.
Human rights activist Qais Abdul Razzaq told North Press, “Syrian society is divided over this issue. Some believe they helped the regime, while others see them as exploited victims. In reality, many came seeking a livelihood, not out of ideological or sectarian conviction.”
He added, “Most detainees in Syrian prisons suffer from severe psychological distress. As activists, we call for the release of prisoners not proven to have committed war crimes, ensuring fair trials, and facilitating their return to their home countries. These men no longer pose a threat to Syria’s security, their leaders have fled, leaving only ordinary fighters to face imprisonment.”
Staggering numbers and uncertain futures
Local activists in Deir ez-Zor estimate that the number of Iraqi militants who entered Syria before the regime’s fall exceeded 8,000. Most reportedly returned to Iraq afterward, but around 30 percent remained, many of whom are now in detention.
To date, the issue remains unresolved due to the absence of a clear agreement between Damascus and Baghdad on how to handle these detainees.
Between limited settlement efforts and delayed negotiations, the fate of thousands of Iraqi and Syrian families remains uncertain, hanging in the balance as one of Syria’s most complex post-war humanitarian and political files.