ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraa – Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi on Sunday discussed the transfer of Islamic State (ISIS) prisoners from Syria to Iraq as an integration agreement takes shape between Damascus and the SDF.

The pair met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Sunday, where they discussed, where they discussed the latest security developments in Syria.

The Iraqi foreign ministry said in a statement that the meeting addressed "the transfer of ISIS prisoners to Iraq and an exchange of views on the nature of the detainees' cases," with Abdi and Hussein emphasizing the importance of maintaining regional security and stability.

Iraq, in coordination with the US, has received some 5,700 ISIS prisoners from its neighbor, owing to a recent bout of instability that broke out between Damascus and the SDF, as forces affiliated with the Syrian government advanced on Kurdish-held positions in Rojava (northeast Syria).

During its campaign, Damascus took control of the al-Shaddadi prison and al-Hol camp in Hasaka, as well as al-Aqtan prison in Raqqa. The three sites, previously held by the SDF, house tens of thousands of ISIS members and their families, raising concerns about a potential reemergence of the group amid the instability.

The violent spell came to a halt after the Kurdish-led force announced a ceasefire and integration agreement with Damascus on January 29, which saw the entry of Syrian government forces into Kurdish-held areas in Hasaka province, as well as the appointment of the SDF-backed Nureddin Issa, a Kurd, as Hasaka's governor.

The Iraqi top diplomat reaffirmed Iraq's "support for efforts aimed at reaching an agreement with the Syrian transitional government," as well as Baghdad's "commitment to strengthening security and stability and achieving the region's interests."

SDF commander Mazloum Abdi and Rojava's foreign relations co-chair Elham Ahmed have joined Shaibani to participate in the Munich Security Conference, as part of Syria's delegation to the summit. Abdi has met several high-profile leaders during the conference, including French President Emmanuel Macron, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.