ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraq has detained a number of Islamic State (ISIS) militants and ISIS-affiliated families inside within its borders after they escaped Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) prisons in Syria, Yehia Rasool, Iraq’s defense ministry spokesperson, told Rudaw English on Thursday.
Some ISIS militants sneaked across the border and were detained in Anbar province over the last two days. It is not clear how many ISIS militants entered Iraq and Rasool declined to say how many have been caught.
“Iraqi forces with the help of the Iraqi intelligence department have detained a number of ISIS terrorists inside Iraqi territory during the last two days,” Rasool said. “The ISIS terrorists have sneaked into Iraq after they escaped prisons in Syria.”
“Iraqi forces are stationed on the Iraqi-Syrian border line to prevent further ISIS terrorists from entering Iraqi territory,” Rasool added.
Iraq is worried about the threat from ISIS militants detained across the border after Turkey launched its Operation Peace Spring last week, aimed at clearing northern Syria of Kurdish forces and resettling up to three million Syrian refugees from Turkey.
At least 750 ISIS affiliates escaped SDF-held Ain Issa camp after Turkish shelling close to the camp and detainees rioted. There are fears that more ISIS fighters and supporters could escape if Turkey’s operation continues and the SDF’s focus is diverted to the frontlines.
Iraqi Defense Minister Nijah al-Shimari visited the Iraqi-Syrian border on Wednesday to inspect the security situation.
“Iraqi minister of defense has visited Iraq-Syrian border areas in Nineveh and Anbar [provinces] to check up on the security situation on the Iraqi-Syrian border line,” his ministry stated in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
The day before, the ministry announced it had deployed additional troops to reinforce the border.
ISIS militants have stepped up their attacks on the SDF’s southern flank in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor provinces, taking advantage of Turkey’s onslaught to the north.
The International Crisis Group warned that Turkey’s offensive, coupled with instability in Iraq, could enable a resurgence of the terror group.
The Pentagon has stated that ISIS is attempting to expand its influence over populations in Iraq’s Sunni-majority provinces north and west of Baghdad, and has reorganized its leadership and established safe havens in rural Sunni-majority areas.
“ISIS is rebuilding in remote territory, which is hard for Iraqi forces to secure,” read a report from the Pentagon Inspector General covering April to late June. ISIS is “able to recruit in these areas using family and tribal connections.”
ISIS seized control of swathes of territory across in Iraq 2014. The group was declared defeated by former Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi in December 2017. However, remnants of the group have returned to earlier insurgency tactics.
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