ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The transfer of Islamic State (ISIS) prisoners from Syria to Iraq is “not permanent” as Baghdad is working to repatriate them to their over 67 countries of origin, a senior Iraqi security official said on Sunday. 

Iraq agreed to take in just over 5,700 ISIS prisoners from its neighbor after the turmoil caused by a January Syrian government offensive in Rojava (northeast Syria) raised fears that detention centers, previously operated by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), would be unable to maintain security amid the conflict.

“The presence of ISIS prisoners in Iraq is not permanent, and the government is working on their return to their countries of origin. Those who arrived in Iraq come from more than 67 countries,” Saeed al-Jayashi, strategic affairs advisor at Iraq’s national security advisory, told state media.

He explained that trying the ISIS prisoners under Iraqi law, overseen by the judiciary, is “preferable” than “dealing with them in an open and uncontrolled environment, which could lead to further clashes.” 

Earlier in February, the US army’s Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had completed the transfer of just over 5,700 adult male ISIS fighters from Syria to Iraq. 

The US military and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS have been heavily involved in facilitating the transfers.

On Monday, Iraq’s judiciary said it had completed the initial interrogations of over 500 ISIS prisoners. 

“The National Security Advisory, during the past five years, has warned about the prisons in Syria that threaten Iraqi security,” Jayashi stressed.

During clashes with Kurdish-led forces, Damascus-affiliated factions 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 Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), housed tens of thousands of ISIS members and their families, raising concerns about a potential reemergence of the group amid the instability.