U.S. Urges Nations to Accept Islamic State Prisoners from Syria, Reports Reuters

By Lesley Wroughton and Jonathan Landay

WASHINGTON – On Monday, the U.S. State Department urged nations to accept foreign fighters captured by U.S. Kurdish allies in Syria. This call comes two days before a meeting in Washington with several coalition partners focused on the fight against Islamic State and discussing the future in Syria.

State Department spokesman Robert Palladino did not disclose the exact number of prisoners held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)—a coalition of militias led by the Kurdish YPG—but U.S. officials estimate the figure to be around 850.

The U.S. has consistently expressed its desire for these fighters to return to their home countries in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa to face legal action.

"The SDF has demonstrated a clear commitment to securely and humanely detain these individuals," Palladino stated, without specifying the locations where the prisoners are being kept. "The United States calls upon other nations to repatriate and prosecute their citizens detained by the SDF," he added.

Officials from the U.S. indicate that there has been a slight increase in the number of foreign fighters in SDF custody as U.S.-backed forces reclaim the last territories held by Islamic State.

This topic is expected to be discussed at the upcoming high-level meeting of allies—a significant first gathering since President Trump’s December announcement regarding the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria.

Trump’s announcement surprised allies, particularly the SDF, which has played a key role in the fight against Islamic State, and it resulted in the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

A Pentagon adviser, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the subject, commented that the State Department’s statement highlights the challenges arising from the U.S. troop withdrawal and the predicament of dealing with the captured fighters.

"This was a problem created by the unexpected and poorly coordinated announcement of a total U.S. withdrawal from Syria," the advisor stated. "We now face a crisis because our allied countries were not prepared to bring home their foreign fighters."

Before Wednesday’s meeting, a senior State Department official informed reporters that the administration’s objectives in Syria continue to include the enduring defeat of Islamic State, the removal of all Iranian forces from Syria, and achieving a political resolution to the ongoing conflict.

The official noted that although the meeting is not intended as a funding pledge conference, there are significant financial gaps related to humanitarian efforts in northeast Syria and Iraq, along with initiatives for mine clearance and stabilization.