BAGHDAD, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Iraq has received the first 150 Islamic State (IS) detainees previously held in Syria's prisons, the Iraqi authorities announced Wednesday.
The detainees, identified as Iraqi and foreign nationals deeply involved in killing Iraqi civilians, were previously held in prisons under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces, according to a statement by Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces.
They were handed over in coordination with the international coalition tasked with fighting IS and will be transferred to official state correctional institutions, the statement added, noting the number and timing of further transfers will depend on ongoing security assessments.
According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the detainees were moved from a detention facility in Hasakah, Syria, to a secure location in Iraq. The transfer is part of a broader plan that could eventually see up to 7,000 IS detainees relocated to Iraqi-controlled facilities.
CENTCOM said in a statement that facilitating the orderly and secure transfer is critical to preventing a breakout that would pose a direct threat to the United States and regional security. ■
