Turkey Agrees to Take Back Citizens from ISIS Detainees Moved to Iraq

Iraq's foreign minister announced Turkey has agreed to repatriate its citizens among thousands of ISIS detainees recently transferred from Syrian camps to Iraq. The transfer occurred after Kurdish forces withdrew and closed detention facilities that had held Islamic State suspects for nearly ten years.

Iraq’s top diplomat announced Monday that Turkey has committed to accepting the return of its nationals who are among thousands of ISIS detainees recently moved from Syria to Iraq following the closure of detention facilities.

The massive transfer of prisoners took place through a U.S.-coordinated operation after Kurdish military forces pulled back and closed detention camps and facilities that had held suspected Islamic State members for almost ten years.

Iraqi officials have stated they plan to prosecute the suspects under their own terrorism laws, while simultaneously urging other nations to reclaim their citizens from the detainee population.

During discussions with U.S. representative Tom Barrack, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein revealed that Iraq is conducting negotiations with multiple countries regarding the return of their nationals and has successfully secured Turkey’s cooperation.

Speaking to the U.N. Human Rights Council in a separate address, Hussein stated: “We would call the states across the world to recover their citizens who’ve been involved in terrorist acts so that they be tried in their countries of origin.”

The situation involving suspected ISIS fighters and thousands of associated women and children has become critically urgent following the collapse of Kurdish security forces amid a Syrian government military campaign.

During its peak control between 2014 and 2017, the Islamic State commanded vast territories across Syria and Iraq under its declared caliphate, governing millions while drawing foreign fighters from around the globe. The extremist group’s control ended following coordinated military operations by regional authorities and a coalition led by the United States.