ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The United States on Thursday praised Iraq’s leadership in counterterrorism efforts, thanking Baghdad for its role in the Global Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State (ISIS) and its steps to help prevent a resurgence of the militant group amid instability in Syria.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Wednesday announced that the US has he transported 150 ISIS members, held at a detention facility in Hasakah, to a secure location in Iraq. “Ultimately, up to 7,000 ISIS detainees could be transferred from Syria to Iraqi-controlled facilities,” CENTCOM said.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement on Thursday welcoming Iraq’s decision to detain ISIS militants in secure facilities inside the country following recent unrest in northeast Syria. Rubio said the move would help ensure that ISIS fighters do not “roam freely throughout the region.”

“Iraq is on the front line in confronting the threat that ISIS still poses to all countries,” Rubio said, noting that the initiative is part of a broader framework to prevent an ISIS resurgence.

Rubio added that non-Iraqi ISIS detainees would be held in Iraq temporarily and urged coalition members to repatriate their citizens to face justice, calling burden-sharing essential to long-term regional security.

Similarly, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also applauded Iraq’s “leadership role” in the anti-ISIS coalition, stating that “Iraq is doing its part,” while noting that Washington “expects countries to repatriate their citizens in these facilities to face justice.”

US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said that Washington was “deeply honored” to thank the Iraqi government for its “exceptional leadership” and its willingness to help protect the international community from the ongoing threat posed by ISIS detainees.

“Iraq’s vital contributions to promoting stability in Syria, and across the broader region, are indispensable,” Barrack said, adding that Baghdad’s efforts reflect a strong commitment to collective security and regional peace.

The remarks came as Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani met with Barrack in Baghdad to discuss regional developments and the situation in Syria.

According to a statement from the prime minister’s media office, Sudani stressed that security in Syria is directly linked to Iraq’s own stability and called for continued cooperation to support calm and preserve Syria’s territorial unity.

Sudani also highlighted the partnership between Iraq and the United States in fighting terrorism, expanding economic cooperation and supporting regional initiatives aimed at long-term development and prosperity.

Barrack, for his part, conveyed US President Donald Trump’s appreciation for Iraq’s handling of its positions during what he described as a sensitive period for the region. He praised the performance of Iraqi security forces, steps taken by the government to attract international investment and efforts to build economic interdependence as key pillars of stability.

The Syrian Arab Army has waged a violent campaign on areas held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) since early January, with Damascus-linked factions rapidly advancing toward Rojava (northeast Syria) despite several fragile ceasefires.

Damascus-affiliated factions have taken control of the al-Shaddadi prison and al-Hol camp in Hasakah, as well as al-Aqtan prison in Raqqa. The three sites house tens of thousands of ISIS members and their families.