Iraq Begins Mass Interrogations of 5,000 ISIS Suspects Following Major Transfer from Syrian Prisons

The transfer also highlights the evolving relationship between the various stakeholders in the Syrian conflict and the Iraqi government. For years, the administration of northeastern Syria has called upon the international community to take back their citizens, citing the unsustainable burden of guarding thousands of foreign and local fighters. By accepting this large group, Baghdad is asserting its role as a primary arbiter of justice for the crimes committed by ISIS on its soil. However, this move also brings inherent risks, as the concentration of so many radicalized individuals in one location requires flawless security to prevent prison breaks or internal recruitment efforts.