Baghdad, Iraq – Iraq has brought back 153 families from Syria’s Al-Hol camp, marking another step in its repatriation efforts. The camp, located in Kurdish-controlled northeastern Syria, houses thousands of people with suspected ties to the Islamic State (IS). Iraqi officials have been working to speed up the process of returning their citizens.
Iraq repatriates more families as part of its ongoing strategy to address security concerns. The latest group, consisting of 505 people, left Al-Hol on Wednesday. Jihan Hanan, the camp’s director, confirmed the departure. An Iraqi security official also confirmed that 153 families arrived in Iraq.
IS once controlled nearly a third of Iraq, but local forces backed by a U.S.-led coalition defeated them in 2017. In Syria, Kurdish-led forces drove IS out of its last stronghold in 2019. Since then, many IS-linked individuals have remained in Kurdish-run camps like Al-Hol.
Baghdad has intensified its repatriation efforts, especially after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December. Iraqi National Security Adviser Qassem al-Araji recently stated that security concerns in Syria make repatriations even more urgent. He also noted that U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to cut foreign aid has created challenges for Iraq’s plans.
Al-Hol currently holds around 37,000 people, including 14,500 Iraqis. Many Western nations hesitate to take back their citizens, leaving Iraq to handle repatriations largely on its own. Iraq repatriates more families despite logistical and financial obstacles.
International aid organizations continue providing essential services in Syrian camps. In Iraq, repatriation efforts have relied on millions of dollars in U.S. assistance. Hanan stated that over 4,000 people have returned to Iraq this year. Under an agreement with the Iraqi government, two repatriation trips will occur each month.
With more families returning home, Iraq repatriates more families as it pushes forward with efforts to reintegrate its citizens. The Iraqi government remains committed to managing the security risks associated with these returns.
