US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani held a phone conversation on Sunday focused on the transfer of ISIS (Daesh) militants from northeastern Syria to secure detention facilities in Iraq, amid growing concerns over regional instability.
According to a statement from the US State Department, Rubio praised Baghdad’s “initiative and leadership” in accelerating the transfer and detention of ISIS terrorists following recent unrest in parts of northeast Syria. The call underscored Washington’s support for Iraq taking greater responsibility for securing and prosecuting detained members of the extremist group.
“The Secretary and Prime Minister discussed ongoing diplomatic efforts to ensure countries rapidly repatriate their citizens in Iraq, bringing them to justice,” the statement said, highlighting a long-standing US push for foreign governments to take back their nationals who joined ISIS and are currently held in detention camps or prisons.
The issue has gained urgency as security conditions in northeastern Syria, where thousands of ISIS fighters are detained by Kurdish-led forces with US backing, remain fragile. US officials have repeatedly warned that instability or mass escapes could enable the group to regroup and pose renewed threats across the region.
Rubio and al-Sudani also discussed Iraq’s “ongoing deliberations” to form a government, reaffirming what the State Department described as a shared commitment to helping Iraq realize its potential “as a force for stability, prosperity, and security in the Middle East.” Iraq has faced prolonged political deadlock and external pressures as it seeks to balance relations with regional and global powers.
During the call, Rubio emphasized Washington’s concern over Iranian influence in Iraq. “The Secretary stressed that a government controlled by Iran cannot successfully put Iraq’s own interests first, keep Iraq out of regional conflicts, or advance the mutually beneficial partnership between the United States and Iraq,” the statement said.
Earlier this week, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed it had launched a mission to transfer ISIS detainees from northeastern Syria to Iraq to ensure they remain in secure facilities. The initial phase involved US forces transporting around 150 ISIS members from a detention center in Syria’s Hasakah province to a secure location in Iraq.
CENTCOM said the operation could eventually involve the transfer of up to 7,000 detainees to Iraqi-controlled facilities, marking a significant shift in how ISIS prisoners are managed as the US reduces its footprint in Syria while seeking to prevent a resurgence of the group.
