United States Central Command: Over 5,700 ISIS Detainees Transferred from Syria to Iraq in 23 Days

Welat TV – Erbil

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the completion of a mission to transfer ISIS detainees following an overnight operation conducted on February 12 from northeast Syria to Iraq, aimed at ensuring the detainees remain in secure detention facilities.

In a statement issued Friday, February 13, 2026, CENTCOM said the transfer mission spanned 23 days, beginning on January 21, during which U.S. forces successfully moved more than 5,700 adult male ISIS fighters from detention facilities in Syria into Iraqi custody.

Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of CENTCOM, said: “Outstanding work by all members of the joint force who executed this exceptional and complex mission on the ground and in the air with great focus, professionalism, and cooperation with our regional partners.

We appreciate Iraq’s leadership and its recognition that transferring detainees is essential to regional security.” U.S. and coalition forces, under the command of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), were responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing the mission.

Brigadier General Kevin Lambert, Commander of CJTF-OIR, stated: “I am extremely proud of the coalition’s exceptional performance. The successful execution of this organized and secure operation will help prevent the re-emergence of ISIS in Syria.”

The Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve was established by CENTCOM in 2014 to advise, assist, and enable partner forces in the fight against ISIS, whose territorial control was eliminated in 2019.