Peregraf — Iraqi authorities announced on Saturday that 2,250 suspected terrorists have been transferred from Syria into Iraq, as the country moves to process one of the largest such handovers in recent years amid continued regional and international efforts to contain the remnants of the Islamic State group.
The Iraqi Security Media Cell said the individuals were received through coordinated land and air operations with the U.S.-led International Coalition, following what it described as extensive efforts by Iraqi security forces. All detainees are being held in high-security, officially designated detention facilities.
Major General Saad Maan, head of the Security Media Cell, told the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA) that Iraq is fully prepared to deal with the influx. “The government and the security forces have the capacity to handle these numbers in a way that prevents danger not only to Iraq, but to the world at large,” he said.
Legal and Judicial Processing Underway
According to Maan, Iraqi authorities have already begun formal legal procedures. Specialized teams are conducting initial investigations and categorizing detainees based on the level of threat they pose. Confessions and testimonies are being recorded under direct judicial supervision, he added.
He stressed that Iraq remains committed to prosecuting all individuals implicated in crimes against Iraqi citizens or in membership of the Islamic State group, in accordance with Iraqi law and before competent national courts.
Foreign Nationals and International Coordination
The group includes foreign nationals, raising long-standing questions about responsibility for ISIS detainees captured in Syria. Maan said Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in ongoing contact with several countries regarding their citizens.
Repatriation to home countries will begin once legal and judicial requirements are completed, he said, while Iraqi security agencies continue their investigative and security work on the file.
The transfer comes as Iraq seeks to assert control over terrorism cases linked to the aftermath of the war against ISIS, while also responding to international pressure for a durable solution to thousands of militants held in the region.
on February 2, 2026, The Al-Karkh First Investigation Court announced the start of investigation proceedings involving 1,387 members of the ISIS terrorist organization who were recently handed over from detention in Syrian territory.
The court said the investigations are being carried out under the direct supervision of the President of the Supreme Judicial Council and are led by a number of judges specialized in counter-terrorism cases. Legal procedures for dealing with the detainees will be conducted within established legal and humanitarian frameworks, in line with Iraqi law and international standards.
According to the court, the move comes as part of Iraq’s ongoing efforts to complete investigations and hold those involved in ISIS crimes accountable under applicable legislation. These steps are taking place alongside international coordination to address the file of ISIS members and crimes that amount to genocide and crimes against humanity.
The judiciary also noted that the total number of ISIS members expected to be transferred exceeds 7,000. In this context, the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation will document and supply investigative authorities and courts with previously archived documents and evidence related to the cases.