Iraq will receive 250 detained IS militants from Syria within hours — expert
Islamic State fighters carry their swords following a battle with Iraqi security forces. File photo
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraq is set to receive 250 detained Islamic State militants, mostly of Iraqi nationality, from the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces within hours, a military expert has said.
Speaking to Almaalomah news website on Tuesday, Safaa al-A’sam said the new batch of detained Islamic State militants comes within the framework of a previous extradition deal between Iraq and the Syrian forces.
Al-A’sam pointed out that the last Islamic State enclave in the Syrian city of Baghuz includes hundreds of Iraqi militants, who fled their country into Syria following the crushing defeat of the terrorist group in Iraq in December 2017.
“As many as 150 Islamic State militants surrendered to the Syrian Democratic Forces within the past few hours,” he added.
In December 2017, former prime minister Haidar al-Abadi announced full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring the end of war against Islamic State group.
The Islamic State group appeared on the international scene in 2014 when it seized large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, declaring the establishment of an Islamic “caliphate” from Mosul city.
Later on, the group has become notorious for its brutality, including mass killings, abductions and beheadings, prompting the U.S. to lead an international coalition to destroy it.