US Moves ISIL Detainees to Iraq as Troops Withdraw from Syria

Iraq launches investigations into ISIL detainees from Syria, with 7,000 expected to arrive in total.

US forces have begun transporting ISIL detainees from Syria to Iraq, with a total of about 7,000 expected to be transferred as part of a trilateral agreement amid escalating security changes in northeastern Syria. Iraq is investigating these detainees for crimes against its citizens, coinciding with a ceasefire between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Recent developments indicate a strengthening of Syrian government control in the region, including the appointment of a new SDF governor by Damascus. The US military presence in Syria continues to adapt as it maintains its focus on countering ISIL remnants and supporting regional stability.