Amid tight security, U.S. moves ISIS prisoners from Syria to Iraq
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – U.S. forces transferred on Wednesday a new group of Islamic State (ISIS) detainees from Hasakah, northeastern Syria, to one of their military bases in the countryside of the governorate, in preparation for their transfer to Iraq.
A North Press correspondent observed U.S. armored vehicles escorting buses carrying ISIS prisoners, followed by additional armored units, amid tight security measures.
According to information obtained by North Press from Western sources, the transfer operations from Syria to Iraq are conducted both overland and by air, under the supervision of U.S. forces.
Eyewitnesses told North Press that such transfer convoys have become a “familiar sight” over recent days.
The move comes as part of U.S. efforts to reduce the number of ISIS detainees held in northern Syria, amid growing security concerns linked to ongoing military developments in the region.
These concerns have intensified following repeated attacks targeting the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and attempts by ISIS to exploit instability to reorganize its ranks.
Over the past years, the U.S. has relied on the SDF to guard detention facilities holding thousands of ISIS members. However, Washington has repeatedly expressed concern over the heavy security and logistical burden posed by these prisons, particularly in light of persistent threats of attacks or mass escape attempts, similar to the assault on al-Sina’a Prison in Hasakah in early 2022.
The transfers coincide with a sensitive phase in northern and eastern Syria, marked by continued security threats and shifting military deployments. This has prompted the United States to take precautionary measures regarding the ISIS detainee file, which remains one of the most complex security challenges in the region.