Iraq hasreceivedclose to 5,000 ISIS prisoners since the start of a US military campaign to relocate the extremist group’s fighters, of whom tens of thousands were previously held in Kurdish-run facilities in northern Syria.

"The transfer of terrorist prisoners from Syria to Iraq is ongoing in coordination with the global coalition, andthey are being held in Iraqi prisons," Sabah al-Numan, spokesman for the commander in chief of the Iraqi army, toldRudawon 11 February. Numan went on to say that the country’s legal system has begun takingjudicial measures "against those individuals who committed crimes against the Iraqi people."

Nearly 5,000 are now in Iraqi facilities, according to the latest data from the Iraqi Joint Operations Command.

The spokesman added that trials will continue “to ensure they receive their just punishment for what they have committed against Iraqis," adding that "all criminal and terrorist acts that were committed will be investigated."

Ali Dhia, assistant head of the judiciary-linked National Center for International Judicial Cooperation (NCIJC), said among theISIS memberswere those who took part in the genocide against the Yezidi minority in Iraq, which began in 2014.

Last month, the Syrian army launched a major assault on Kurdish-held parts of northern and eastern Syria, seizing key oil fields and cities from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). During the assault,SDF forces were no longer able to hold Hasakah’s Shaddaddi Prison.

After the facility fell to Jolani's Syrian army, some1,500 ISIS prisoners escaped. The SDF, once considered a major USally, accused Washington of ignoring distress calls for help. It said a US military base was only two kilometers away from the prison.

The Syrian government also entered the Al-Hawl Camp, previously run by the SDF, which held tens of thousands of ISIS militants and their families, who also pose a serious security threat.

The camp was emptied by Syrian forces. Footage showed scores of prisoners flooding out of Al-Hawl. Syrian Kurdish officials warned afterwards that the government assault risked a major ISIS resurgence.

A day later, the US militaryannounceda campaign to “transfer” ISIS fighters to Iraqi facilities.Washington said up to 7,000 ISIS members would be relocated, yet thousands more remain on the loose. Since then, Iraqi officials havewarned of increased ISIS activity.

Source: ZeroHedge News