CENTCOM: 7,000 ISIS Members Remain Active in Syria
CENTCOM Transfers ISIS Detainees to Iraq
The U.S.Central Command (CENTCOM) initiated the transfer of ISIS prisoners from Syria to Iraq on January 21, 2026, following security concerns at detention facilities in northeastern Syria, according to a CENTCOM statement.
The operation began with the relocation of 150 ISIS members from a prison in Hasakah, Syria, to secure facilities within Iraq. CENTCOM intends to transfer a total of 7,000 ISIS detainees currently held in Syria to detention centers under the full control of the Iraqi government.
This transfer occurred at the request of the Iraqi government, CENTCOM reported. The move aims to prevent the potential for ISIS detainees to escape custody amid instability in the region, especially following recent breaches in security at Rojava prisons and advances by the Syrian army.