Transfer of ISIS Detainees from Syria to an Iraq Detention Center

23 January 2026, 3:19 AM

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إجراءات أمنية مشددة في مركز احتجاز بالعراق يضم عناص من داعش - Tight security measures at an Iraq detention center housing ISIS members — Staff Sgt. Shawn Morris, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Strict Security Measures at Iraq Detention Center Following ISIS Detainee Transfer

Iraqi officials said authorities have begun segregating ISIS detainees transferred from Syria, with high-ranking members to be held in a high-security detention center near Baghdad International Airport, previously used by U.S. forces. The move is part of efforts to manage the security file and oversee detainees under strict legal and security standards.

An Iraqi military spokesperson confirmed that the country received the first batch of 150 detainees, including Iraqis and foreigners, adding that the number of future transfers will depend on security and field assessments. He described the transferred detainees as among the group’s high-ranking members.

ISIS members transferred to an Iraq detention center — IP, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council noted that Iraqi courts will take the necessary legal measures regarding the detainees after their registration in specialized correctional institutions, including the application of penalties prescribed under Iraqi law.

The transfer has raised concerns among some detainees’ relatives in Europe, particularly due to Iraq’s application of the death penalty. Two Iraqi legal sources said the transferred detainees represent a mix of nationalities, with Iraqis forming the majority, alongside Arab fighters and Europeans from the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany, and Sweden.