Taking a big step, America has started the process of sending about 7,000 suspected terrorists associated with Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) from the north-eastern areas of Syria to Iraq. This area is near the border of Iraq, which later connects to Iran also. The question is arising, why are these terrorists suddenly being shifted here?
According to American officials, this decision was taken after the recent jailbreak incident. Government forces in Syria are advancing in areas that were long under the control of US-backed Kurdish forces (SDF). There are many jails and camps in these areas, where ISIS fighters and their families were kept. Seeing the situation worsening, America feared that terrorists might escape on a large scale.
The US military confirmed on Wednesday that 150 ISIS suspects have been sent to safe havens in Iraq from a detention center in Hasakah. America says that in future up to 7,000 terrorists can be shifted to Iraqi jails. Iraq's National Security Council has approved this step. The Iraqi government clearly said that Iraqi and foreign terrorists will be kept in government prisons. The first batch includes terrorists who are accused of killing innocent Iraqis.
Till now these prisons were guarded by the Kurdish-led SDF. But as the Syrian government increased control in the north-eastern areas, the SDF retreated in many places. During this time, control also changed in Al-Hol camp, where the families of ISIS fighters live. Recently a ceasefire has been announced between the Syrian government and SDF.
America has said that we are working closely with regional partners including the Iraqi government. Safe transfer of terrorists is necessary, so that ISIS cannot re-organize. America fears that if these terrorists are released, then instability may spread not only in Iraq and Syria, but in the entire region and even to the border of Iran. Even though ISIS was defeated in Iraq in 2017 and Syria in 2019, the sleeper cells of the organization are still active. This is why America does not want to take any risk.
