Baghdad: Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein has declared that Iraq should not be responsible alone for the security and financial burdens associated with handling ISIS detainees.
According to Anadolu Agency, a statement by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, relayed by the Iraqi News Agency, indicated that Hussein made these remarks during a phone call with EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas. The conversation highlighted the robust relations between Iraq and the EU and explored avenues for enhanced cooperation in mutual interest areas.
The dialogue also addressed the issue of ISIS and detention facilities in Syria, particularly after the escape of several group members from prisons no longer under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The discussions extended to the security situation in Syria’s Hasakah province, with both parties emphasizing the need for a sustained ceasefire and peaceful resolution of unresolved issues.
The statement underscored both parties’ agreement on the importance of Europe playing a proactive role in supporting negotiations between the SDF and the Syrian government, aiming for concrete agreements and their enforcement.
On the topic of ISIS prisoners, Kaja Kallas expressed gratitude to the Iraqi government for its preliminary consent to receive them. However, Hussein reiterated Iraq’s stance that it should not singularly shoulder the security and financial implications, emphasizing that the responsibility should be shared among all concerned nations.
In related developments, the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council announced its intention to pursue legal action against ISIS detainees transferred from Syria to Iraq. This announcement followed the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) launch of a mission to relocate ISIS detainees from northeastern Syria to Iraq, ensuring they remain in secure detention. The mission began with US forces transporting 150 ISIS fighters from a facility in Hasakah province to a secure location in Iraq, with plans to eventually transfer up to 7,000 detainees to Iraqi-controlled facilities.