ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – A high-level American delegation visited Baghdad on Thursday and met with Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji, commending Baghdad’s efforts to close the notorious al-Hol camp in northeast Syria (Rojava) and repatriate all of its nationals. 

The delegation, led by the director of the National Counterterrorism Center Joseph Kent, discussed strengthening bilateral ties and joint counterterrorism cooperation with the Iraqi side, Araji’s office said in a statement. 

“The American delegation commended the Iraqi government’s role in repatriating Iraqi families from the al-Hol camp, rehabilitating them, and reintegrating them into society,” the statement added. 

During the meeting, Araji asserted that Baghdad’s ultimate goal remains to close the al-Hol camp “to ensure the security and stability of the region and the world.” 

Located in Rojava’s Hasaka province, al-Hol houses tens of thousands of people with links to ISIS. The camp has been branded as a major security concern, with both regional and international communities repeatedly expressing concern and labeling it a “ticking time bomb.”

In late October, Iraq said that it had repatriated over 19,000 of its nationals from the camp so far. 

Baghdad has been leading the drive to close the camp as soon as possible. In late September, Iraq held a conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on the repatriation of persons from al-Hol, with top Iraqi and UN officials urging the international community to repatriate their nationals.

Araji “praised the success of the recent conference in New York” during the meeting, according to the statement. 

Iraq aims to complete the repatriation of its nationals from al-Hol by the end of 2025. The camp reportedly still holds over 13,000 Iraqis.

Kurdish-led security forces in Rojava also routinely carry out operations against ISIS inside the camp and thwart escape attempts.