US sets up joint cell for repatriating ISIS detainees from NE Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, announced on Friday the establishment of a joint cell tasked with coordinating the repatriation of Islamic State (ISIS) militants and their families from detention centers and camps in northeast Syria.
Cooper made the statement during a high-level international conference dedicated to the return of foreign nationals held in al-Hawl Camp and other detention sites in areas administered by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
“I am pleased to announce, from a military perspective, that CENTCOM is establishing a special joint cell to support efforts to repatriate ISIS members and their families from northeast Syria to their home countries,” Cooper said.
The admiral stressed that the cell’s mission is to coordinate the return of both detainees and families affiliated with ISIS. “I urge you to engage with us so we can directly address the emerging ISIS problem while there is still time. Inaction is not an option. Every day that passes without repatriating detainees in northeast Syria multiplies the danger for all of us,” he said.
Cooper described the task as “difficult” but insisted that collective efforts can bring progress. Earlier this month, he personally visited al-Hawl Camp for the fourth time in two years. “I saw firsthand the need to accelerate repatriations. Progress has been made, and I look forward to advancing this effort,” he noted.
He also acknowledged the continuing threat posed by ISIS within displacement camps and detention facilities. “There is no doubt that ISIS still maintains significant influence in these sites. That is a reality we must confront,” Cooper said.
The commander called on the international community to intensify joint efforts. “Let us all double our work to protect the vulnerable and deny ISIS the opportunity to reemerge,” he added.
The United States, he emphasized, remains committed to supporting the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and assisting countries in fulfilling their responsibilities toward repatriating citizens.
The region’s security forces, led by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), continue to oversee al-Hawl and other detention facilities, working with international partners to prevent ISIS resurgence while maintaining stability in areas administered by the AANES.