US forces have begun transferring IS prisoners out of Syria, moving 150 detainees to Iraq under plans that could see up to 7,000 relocated. The move follows growing instability after Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) withdrew troops from parts of northeast Syria, raising concerns over the security of prisons and detention camps holding thousands of IS members and affiliates. US officials said recent unrest allowed around 200 low-level fighters to escape one facility, though many were later recaptured. More than 10,000 IS fighters remain imprisoned in Syria, alongside thousands of women and children connected to the group. The transfers are being carried out in coordination with the Iraqi government as part of efforts to prevent a resurgence of IS and maintain regional security. The changes come amid a wider political shift, with Syria’s new government seeking to reassert control after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. A ceasefire has been agreed with the SDF, which has been urged to integrate into the Syrian state, marking a significant transition in security arrangements.
Syria: US moves 150 IS prisoners, thousands to follow
Written by David Fletcher 22 Jan 2026
Additional Info
- Pray: for lasting peace, protection from extremism, and stability as authorities manage dangerous transitions in fragile regions. (Isaiah 32:17)
- More: news.sky.com/story/us-moves-150-islamic-state-prisoners-out-of-syria-with-thousands-more-to-follow-13497338
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