U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced the launch of a new mission aimed at the orderly and secure transfer of ISIS detainees from northeastern Syria to Iraq, warning that any escape attempts could pose a direct threat to U.S. and regional security.
In a statement released Wednesday, CENTCOM said U.S. forces successfully transferred 150 ISIS detainees from a detention facility in Hasakah, Syria, to a secure site in Iraq. The command added that up to 7,000 ISIS detainees could eventually be relocated from Syria to detention centers under Iraqi government control as part of the operation.
CENTCOM said the transfers are being carried out alongside intensified counterterrorism operations. During related missions, U.S. and coalition forces killed more than 20 ISIS militants. The command also disclosed that since the start of 2025, more than 300 ISIS members have been arrested in Syria, with over 20 others killed in ongoing operations.
CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said the mission is being conducted in close coordination with regional partners, particularly the Iraqi government. He emphasized that securing ISIS detainees and preventing escapes is critical to maintaining stability and avoiding renewed threats from the group.
The announcement comes amid growing concerns over the security situation in northeastern Syria. Syria’s Ministry of Interior said earlier this week that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) released a number of ISIS detainees and their families after withdrawing from guarding al-Hol camp near Hasakah without coordination with Damascus or the international coalition.
Following the withdrawal, the Syrian government formally notified U.S. authorities of the SDF’s plans, prompting what it described as immediate measures to prevent a security vacuum.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that American forces, working with the Syrian government, helped apprehend ISIS members who escaped from al-Shaddadi prison south of Hasakah. He described the suspects as among the world’s most dangerous terrorists and said they were European nationals.
The latest developments highlight continued international concern over the fate of thousands of ISIS detainees held in Syria and the risks their escape could pose.
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