Iraq's Ministry of Justice reported that more than 5,000 ISIL-linked detainees have been moved from Syrian jails to a prison in Iraq. Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Laibi said these transfers were made following requests from the US-led international coalition fighting ISIL. Around 3,000 detainees are Syrian nationals, while at least 270 are Iraqi. The detainees are held separately and will be investigated and prosecuted under Iraqi law. The coalition manages their daily needs like food. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told Reuters that the transfer process is still ongoing and that Iraq is negotiating with other countries about repatriating their nationals. The US military has moved thousands of ISIL suspects from prisons formerly controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as Syrian government forces regain control over parts of Syria. Recent clashes between the Syrian army and the SDF caused some detainees to escape, raising concerns about ISIL regrouping. A ceasefire has since been established. The US military’s withdrawal from northeast Syria continues, with the Syrian government now controlling key military bases like al-Tanf. US Admiral Brad Cooper emphasized that transferring detainees securely helps prevent mass breakouts and regional threats. Although ISIL’s large-scale defeat happened years ago, sleeper cells still carry out attacks in Iraq and Syria. Lawyers for French detainees recently alleged torture in Iraqi prisons, highlighting ongoing concerns about detainee treatment. The shift in US partnerships sees the Syrian government replacing the SDF as Washington's main ally against ISIL in Syria, following Damascus joining the anti-ISIL coalition in late 2023.