US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) handed on Monday a new batch of 280 Iraqi and foreign detainees belonging to ISIS, under an agreement to transfer a group of some 500 detainees held by the SDF in Syria.
An Iraqi military colonel confirmed to Reuters that 130 people were transferred on Sunday, adding to the 150 transferred on Thursday. They included the first known transfers of non-Iraqi detainees to Iraq, but it was unclear if they will remain in Iraqi custody.
Among the 280 were as many as 14 French citizens and six Arabs of unspecific nationality, according to one military source close to the handover process who commands troops near the Syrian border.
Around 800 foreign fighters who joined ISIS, including many Iraqis, are being held in Syria by the SDF, the group has said. More than 2,000 family members are also in camps, with dozens more arriving each day.
Meanwhile, Iraq’s Security Media Cell said: “During battles between SDF and ISIS in Syria, the Forces captured a large number of militants of multiple nationalities, including more than 500 Iraqis.”
“As of now, we have received 280 [Iraqi ISIS fighters],” it added in statement.
Over the past year, the Iraqi judiciary has issued death and life sentences to dozens of alleged ISIS members.
Iraqi authorities confirm that the transfers are expected to continue until they are completed.
In Baghdad, security forces are cross-referencing the list of names in their database with arrests warrants issued earlier by judicial authorities against suspected ISIS members.
Still, there are fears inside Iraq that the transfer of the extremists could be the prelude for security setbacks.
Hisham Al-Hashemi, an Iraqi expert with intimate knowledge of the issue, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the latest security setbacks were due to Iraq’s failure in dealing with ISIS remnants.
He said the remaining members understood disputes between Iraq’s political forces and chose the suitable timing for their operations, while Iraqi analytical security institutions lost their ability to devise preemptive defense strategies.
