When US President Donald Trump, during his first term in office, declared that ISIL (ISIS) had been defeated, many of the group’s fighters and their families were locked up in northeastern Syria.
They stayed there, in prisons and camps, until dramatic changes unfolded on the ground in recent weeks.
list of 3 items
list 1 of 3Syrian army takes over al-Shaddadi base after US withdrawal
list 2 of 3Exodus of ISIL-linked detainees from Syria camp sparks security concerns
list 3 of 3Australia refuses to repatriate ISIL relatives from Syrian camp
end of list
Fearing the detainees may escape, the US has moved more than 5,700 suspected ISIL fighters from Syria to Iraq.
That has led to grave concern from human rights groups, which warn that the detainees are now at risk of torture and unfair trials.
So, why did Washington decide to transfer those prisoners? And is the move motivated by a lack of trust in the new Syrian government?
Presenter: James Bays
Guests:
Zeidon Alkinani – Independent researcher on identity politics in Iraq and the Middle East
Colin Clarke – Executive director of The Soufan Center, a global intelligence and security consultancy
Sarah Sanbar – Researcher in the Middle East and North Africa division at Human Rights Watch
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
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