Khaberni - Informed sources reported today, Saturday, that American forces transferred by land a third batch of ISIS detainees from Ghuwayran Prison in Hasakah province to Iraq, and also evacuated the observation towers scattered around the military base in the Shaddadi area of the province.
The sources said that the transfer of the new batch of ISIS detainees is part of a trilateral agreement between the Coalition forces, the Syrian Army, and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
On January 21, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the initiation of an operation to transfer the detainees from northeast Syria to Iraq.
On the same day, CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper briefed the Syrian President, Ahmad al-Shar’a, via phone on a plan to transfer 7,000 ISIS detainees to Iraq.
This came after the withdrawal of SDF from al-Hol camp in northeast Syria, following battles with the Syrian Army, which subsequently established control over the camp and its surroundings.
The Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq announced on Monday the commencement of investigation procedures with 1,387 ISIS elements, recently received by the country from Syria.
The Supreme Judicial Council stated in a statement published by the Iraqi News Agency that the Karkh First Investigative Court started the investigation procedures with the ISIS elements who were recently received from the detainees in Syrian territory.
The Council expects Iraq to receive more than 7,000 elements from the organization, noting that the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation will work on documenting and providing investigation authorities and courts with previously archived documents and evidence.
Shaddadi Evacuation
Also, Al Jazeera's correspondent reported the evacuation of American forces from the observation towers around the military base in the Shaddadi area in Hasakah province (far northeast Syria), except at the western observation tower.
He added that American soldiers were seen removing the American flag from one of the observation towers, which might indicate an imminent evacuation of the base.
He explained that the radar, which was designated for aircraft take-off and landing at the base's airstrip, also disappeared along with the absence of warplanes, pointing to the landing of a large cargo plane that spent several hours at the base before taking off.
The official military presence of the United States in Syria officially began in October 2015, when the United States deployed its first batch of about 50 special forces soldiers in a non-combat advisory role, as part of the international coalition to fight ISIS.
By June 2025, reports indicated that about 500 American soldiers had left Syria, reducing the number to about 1,400 soldiers, but these figures are considered estimates due to the secrecy of military missions.
The announced missions of these forces focus on fighting ISIS, supporting the SDF, providing logistical and intelligence support, as well as protecting oil and gas fields in Hasakah and Deir Ezzor.
