United States launches operation to transfer thousands of ISIS fighters from Syrian prisons to Iraq
The U.S. military has launched a comprehensive operation aimed at transferring up to seven thousand Islamic State (ISIS) fighters from prisons in northeastern Syria to Iraqi territory. This comes as the Syrian army secures greater control over areas where the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had maintained control for many years.
A command from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the transfer process has already begun, confirming that more than 150 fighters belonging to the terrorist organization have been moved to a secure location in Iraq to prevent a large-scale escape that could “pose a direct threat to the national security of the United States and the security of the region.”
In this context, the Syrian government announced on Tuesday evening a new truce agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), following their withdrawal from the Al-Baghouz camp, which was considered one of the largest camps housing refugees close to the terrorist group’s fighters.
In a separate development, the Syrian Ministry of Defense announced yesterday, Wednesday, the death of seven of its soldiers in a drone attack carried out by the Syrian Democratic Forces in Al-Hasakah province, which is largely controlled by Kurdish factions.
The Syrian government and the SDF have traded accusations regarding who was behind the escape of individuals accused of collaborating with ISIS from an SDF prison in the Shaddadi area, south of Al-Hasakah province.
Syrian security forces conducted a military raid in the city on Monday evening, after announcing the “escape of approximately 120 individuals accused of carrying out extremist terrorist acts” from the prison. The Syrian Ministry reported that search operations by its security forces resulted in the arrest of 81 of those accused of joining the extremist organization.
In contrast, the SDF admitted to losing control over Shaddadi prison following an attack by “formations backed by Damascus,” according to their statement, and was unable to prevent a “serious security disaster.” They noted the deaths of dozens of their fighters during attempts to protect the prison from being seized.
SDF representative Farhad Shami stated that more than 1,500 ISIS members escaped during the clashes, and also accused Syrian government forces of directing attacks targeting another prison in the Al-Aktan area, north of Raqqa.
Although the Islamic State (ISIS) has significantly declined in military influence in Syria, it remains increasingly active, focusing on executing attacks primarily targeting the Syrian Democratic Forces in eastern Syria during 2025.
The United States played a pivotal role in establishing and training the Syrian Democratic Forces, but its public role has begun to see a shift this year. U.S. forces reported that throughout 2025, they managed to arrest more than 300 wanted individuals and suspects, in addition to the killing of 20 other fighters from the terrorist organization during various military operations.
Despite this, the U.S. Ambassador and Special Representative for Syria, Tom Barak, emphasizes that the primary goal of U.S. cooperation with the SDF has “largely lost its effectiveness now,” and that his country’s focus is currently on ensuring the security of ISIS detention facilities and acting as a mediator to reach agreements between the SDF and the Syrian presidency under Ahmed Sharak.
Barak wrote on a social media platform: “These moments offer a path toward full integration within a unified Syrian state, granting civil rights, cultural protection, and political participation—which was long absent under the regime of Bashar al-Assad.”
United News Network – UNN Arabic
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