US Central Command launches secure transfer of ISIS detainees from Syria

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on January 21 that it had launched an operation aimed at ensuring the orderly and secure transfer of ISIS detainees from northeastern Syria to Iraq, citing the need to prevent escape attempts that could pose a direct threat to the United States and regional stability.

In a statement posted on its official website, CENTCOM said US forces had successfully transferred 150 ISIS detainees from a detention facility in Hasakah province to a secure location in Iraq, Caliber.Az reports.

The command added that as many as 7,000 ISIS detainees could eventually be relocated from Syria to detention facilities under the control of Iraqi authorities.

CENTCOM also reported that US and coalition forces killed more than 20 ISIS militants during counterterrorism operations linked to the transfer mission. The statement noted that these actions were part of ongoing efforts to degrade ISIS capabilities and prevent the group from reorganising.

CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said the operation was being carried out in close coordination with regional partners, including the Iraqi government. He stressed that the safe and orderly transfer of ISIS detainees was critical to preventing potential prison breaks that could directly endanger US interests and undermine regional security.

The command further stated that throughout 2025, US and coalition forces arrested more than 300 ISIS members in Syria and killed over 20 others during separate counterterrorism operations.

The announcement comes amid recent developments surrounding the management of ISIS detainees in northeastern Syria.

Syria’s Ministry of Interior said on January 20 that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had released several ISIS detainees and their family members after SDF units withdrew from guarding al-Hol camp, located east of Hasakah, without coordination with the Syrian government or the international coalition.

Following these developments, the Syrian government officially notified the US side of the SDF’s intention to pull back from positions surrounding al-Hol camp, prompting immediate steps to prevent the emergence of a potential security vacuum in the area.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on January 21 that American forces had cooperated with the Syrian government to capture ISIS members who had escaped from al-Shaddadi prison south of Hasakah. He described those detained as some of the most dangerous terrorists in the world and noted that they were European nationals.

By Jeyhun Aghazada