The United States has moved nearly 6,000 ISIS detainees from north-east Syria to Iraq, in what officials describe as a preventive effort to reduce the risk of a large-scale prison escape during a period of mounting instability.
The transfer was confirmed on 13 February 2026, when US military officials announced that the detainees — previously held in facilities guarded by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) — had been relocated into Iraqi custody.
Officials stressed that no mass breakout was underway at the time. However, they said the shifting security landscape in north-east Syria raised enough concern to warrant swift action.
Why the Prisons Were a Concern
Since the territorial defeat of ISIS in March 2019, thousands of captured fighters have remained in detention across north-east Syria. The facilities, overseen by the SDF with backing from the US-led coalition, have long been described by analysts as overstretched and vulnerable.
Those concerns are not new. In January 2022, ISIS militants launched a coordinated assault on the Ghweiran prison in Hasakah in an attempt to free detainees. The attack sparked days of fighting and underlined how strategically important these prisons remain to the group.
With regional tensions rising again in recent months, US officials warned that any deterioration in guard capacity or prison security could create an opportunity for escape attempts. The prospect of thousands of experienced militants slipping out of custody was viewed as a serious regional threat.
How the Transfer Unfolded
According to statements from the US military, the operation was carried out in coordination with the Iraqi government. The detainees — numbering around 5,700 — were transported from SDF-run facilities in Syria to more secure detention centres in Iraq.
While specific operational details have not been publicly disclosed, officials said the relocation was carefully organised to minimise risk during movement.
The transfer was overseen by the US-led Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), the coalition body responsible for ongoing counter-ISIS efforts in the region.
Iraqi authorities have since assumed responsibility for the detainees, who will now be processed under Iraqi law. Iraq declared military victory over ISIS in December 2017, but continues to prosecute terrorism cases linked to the group.
The Key Players
Several actors were central to the move:
- The United States Department of Defense, which coordinated the effort.
- Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR).
- The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who had been guarding the detainees in Syria.
- The Government of Iraq accepted custody of the prisoners.
US officials have framed the operation as preventive rather than reactive. There was no confirmed breach at the time of transfer, but intelligence assessments indicated that deteriorating conditions could heighten the risk.
A Lingering Security Challenge
Although ISIS lost control of its territory nearly seven years ago, the issue of detainees remains one of the most complex legacies of the conflict. Thousands of imprisoned fighters represent both a logistical burden and an ongoing security concern.
Counterterrorism experts have long warned that prison breaks can significantly bolster extremist groups, providing them with trained personnel and a powerful propaganda narrative.
By moving the detainees before any crisis unfolded, US and Iraqi officials say they aimed to prevent precisely that scenario.
The February 2026 transfer stands as one of the largest coordinated relocations of ISIS prisoners since the group's territorial collapse — a reminder that, despite its defeat on the battlefield, the long shadow of ISIS has not entirely faded.
Originally published on IBTimes UK
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