Iraq holds over 5,000 Daesh members transferred from Syria, coalition funds detention

2026-02-13 - 09:25

Iraq has taken custody of more than 5,000 Daesh terrorists transferred from Syrian territory, the Justice Ministry confirmed Friday, in one of the largest counterterrorism detainee operations since the group's territorial defeat. Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Laibi told the Iraqi News Agency that 5,064 individuals have been relocated thus far, including approximately 270 Iraqi nationals, over 3,000 Syrians, and hundreds of other foreign fighters from numerous countries. Legal Framework and Coalition Coordination Laibi emphasized that all detainees are housed in a single secure facility and will face investigation and prosecution under Iraqi domestic law. He described the transfer protocols as "legally sound" and confirmed the operation was executed "in coordination with the US-led international coalition against Daesh and at its request." Justice Minister Khalid Shwani similarly affirmed that all procedures followed coordinated planning with coalition partners. Significantly, the spokesperson clarified that "the cost of feeding the detained Daesh members is being covered by the international coalition, not the Iraqi government," addressing potential domestic concerns about the financial burden. Ongoing Threat and Post-Victory Operations Iraq formally declared victory over Daesh in late 2017 following three years of intense military campaigning. However, the terror organization maintains residual capabilities, conducting sporadic attacks in northern, western, and eastern provinces. Iraqi security forces continue counterterrorism operations targeting remaining sleeper cells. The mass transfer from Syria underscores both the enduring challenge of foreign fighters and the necessity of international burden-sharing in post-conflict stabilization, while raising complex questions regarding prosecution, repatriation, and long-term detention of thousands of suspected militants.