Trump Pursues Syria Exit - Transfer of All ISSI Detainees to Iraq Concludes

 

America’s Exit from Syria Could Redraw the Terror Map

The United States is quietly reshaping its Middle East strategy — and the consequences could echo far beyond Syria’s borders.

As Washington prepares to reduce its military footprint in Syria, thousands of suspected ISIS fighters are being moved out of the war-torn country and into Iraqi custody. The transfer, involving roughly 6,000 to 7,000 detainees, marks one of the largest shifts in the anti-ISIS campaign in years and signals a major turning point in U.S. policy.

For years, Kurdish-led forces in northeastern Syria guarded these prisoners, holding them in overcrowded facilities that Western officials feared could become ticking time bombs. Now, as the United States steps back, the responsibility for containing these militants is being passed to Iraq — a country that once nearly collapsed under ISIS rule.

American officials argue the move is necessary to prevent chaos during the transition. But the decision comes with risks. Intelligence officials warn that any instability during the handover could give extremist networks the opening they need to regroup. The fear is not theoretical — recent fighting and prison security breakdowns have already raised concerns about possible escapes and renewed insurgency activity.

Complicating matters further is the changing political landscape in Syria itself. The United States is now placing cautious trust in Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa — a controversial figure whose past links to militant groups continue to spark debate among analysts and policymakers. Washington hopes he can stabilize the fractured country, but critics question whether his government has the strength or reliability to prevent ISIS from rising again.

Meanwhile, America’s Kurdish allies — once central to the fight against ISIS — are watching from the sidelines, increasingly uneasy about decisions that could reshape the region without their influence. Their marginalization adds another layer of tension to an already volatile transition.

At its core, this moment reflects a broader strategic gamble: the United States is attempting to end its long military mission in Syria while hoping the forces left behind can keep extremism contained. But history in the Middle East shows that power vacuums rarely stay empty for long.

If the handover succeeds, Washington could finally step away from one of its most complex conflicts. If it fails, the region may once again become fertile ground for the very militants the coalition spent years trying to defeat.