U.S. Begins Transferring ISIS Prisoners From Syria to Iraq, Raising Alarm Among Chaldeans

U.S. forces have begun transferring ISIS detainees from northeastern Syria into Iraq, citing growing concerns over prison security, regional instability, and the risk of coordinated prison breakouts amid ongoing conflict. The first transfer reportedly involved 150 ISIS fighters, with plans that could ultimately see up to 7,000 detainees moved into Iraqi-controlled facilities.

The decision comes at a sensitive moment for Iraq, which continues to face political fragmentation, armed militias, and unresolved security challenges nearly a decade after ISIS’s rise and fall. While U.S. and coalition officials argue the transfers are necessary to prevent detainees from escaping amid instability in Syria, the move has reignited fears about Iraq’s capacity to securely detain large numbers of hardened ISIS militants.

For Iraq’s indigenous Christian communities, particularly Chaldeans, this development is deeply troubling. Chaldeans were among ISIS’s primary targets during the group’s 2014–2017 campaign of terror, suffering mass displacement, church destruction, kidnappings, and killings across the Nineveh Plain and beyond. Many survivors have yet to return home, and accountability for ISIS crimes remains limited.

Community leaders warn that relocating ISIS fighters back into Iraq without transparent safeguards, international oversight, and long-term security guarantees risks reopening old wounds and undermining fragile stability. There are also concerns that future prison breaks, political interference, or militia influence could once again place civilians, especially minorities, at risk.

As Iraq navigates this latest security challenge, Chaldean communities are calling for clarity, accountability, and firm assurances that the horrors of the ISIS era will not be allowed to repeat themselves.

Chaldean Press will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as more details emerge.