700 individuals from the al-Hol camp in Syria, where tens of thousands of people including suspected extremist fighters’ family members are detained, have been repatriated to Iraq, as reported by a local official and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Al-Hol camp hosts over 43,000 Syrians, Iraqis, and foreigners from at least 45 countries under dire conditions in a densely populated area controlled by Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria, according to Agence France-Presse. Among these are relatives of suspected ISIS fighters and refugees. An Iraqi official, who requested anonymity due to not being authorized to speak to the media, stated that ‘about 160 families, or 700 individuals, have returned from al-Hol camp,’ marking the latest effort in this regard.
The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a broad network of sources in Syria, noted that 714 Iraqis left the camp on Sunday. Upon arrival in Iraq, returnees from al-Hol are usually kept for weeks or even months in a facility described by officials as for ‘psychological rehabilitation,’ located in the Jad’ah camp near Mosul in northern Iraq.
In March, about 160 Iraqi families were repatriated from al-Hol. Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al-Aaraji announced on March 2 that Iraq has returned ‘1,924 families from al-Hol camp, totaling 7,556 Iraqi citizens,’ adding that ‘1,230 families have voluntarily returned to their original areas, and the remaining are undergoing rehabilitation at Jad’ah camp.’ The return of extremists’ relatives continues to spark controversy among Iraqis, who underwent a three-year war ending in late 2017 with the expulsion of ISIS after it had controlled about a third of the country.
Some Iraqis oppose efforts to repatriate their nationals from al-Hol, stressing that family members of ISIS fighters are unwelcome. Despite the challenges, Iraq is among the few countries that regularly repatriate its citizens from al-Hol, a move welcomed by both the United Nations and the United States. Despite the organization’s defeat in the field, its fighters continue to launch attacks against civilians and security forces in Iraq and Syria.
ISIS continues to maintain a presence in Iraq and Syria, although their capabilities have been significantly diminished compared to their peak years. According to recent reports, despite the defeat of their so-called “caliphate,” ISIS has managed to reorganize and continues to pose a security threat in both countries. They have been involved in sporadic attacks and maintain some level of operational capability, largely due to the complex and unstable political environments in the region.
In Iraq, the group has been weakened considerably thanks to ongoing military operations by Iraqi forces and international partners. U.S. Central Command reported that in April 2023 alone, 35 operations targeting ISIS were conducted in Iraq and Syria, with several ISIS operatives being killed or detained. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to prevent the resurgence of ISIS and to support local security forces in maintaining control.
The situation in Syria is somewhat similar, with ISIS still capable of carrying out attacks, though on a smaller scale. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), with the support of the U.S. and coalition partners, continue to target ISIS remnants to prevent them from regaining any significant foothold.
