Space Travel News
TERROR WARS
Iraq repatriates more families from IS-linked Syria camp
Iraq repatriates more families from IS-linked Syria camp
by AFP Staff Writers
Baghdad (AFP) Mar 13, 2025

Iraq has repatriated more than 150 additional families from Al-Hol camp in neighbouring Syria, an Iraqi security official said on Thursday, the latest such transfer from the camp where many have alleged jihadist links.

Kurdish-run camps and prisons in northeastern Syria still hold about 56,000 people from dozens of countries, many of them the family members of Islamic State group (IS) suspects, more than five years after the jihadists' territorial defeat in Syria.

While many Western countries refuse to take back their nationals, Baghdad has taken the lead by accelerating repatriations and urging others to follow suit.

The latest group of 505 people is the sixth since the beginning of the year to be repatriated. They left the camp on Wednesday, said Jihan Hanan, Al-Hol's director.

About "153 families arrived yesterday" in Iraq, the Iraqi security official who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed to AFP.

IS captured nearly a third of Iraq before local forces backed by a US-led coalition defeated them in Iraq in 2017.

In Syria, US-backed Kurdish forces dislodged IS from the last of its Syrian-held territory in 2019.

Al-Hol is located in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of Syria.

Iraq has intensified its efforts to bring back its nationals amid concerns about the security situation in Syria following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December, Iraqi National Security Adviser Qassem al-Araji told AFP last week.

International aid organisations provide services for residents of the Syrian camps, and projects in Iraq have also depended on hundreds of millions of dollars in US assistance in recent years, according to official figures.

Araji said US President Donald Trump's decision to cut foreign aid hinders Baghdad's repatriation efforts.

Al-Hol still holds about 37,000 people, including 14,500 Iraqis, Hanan said.

"More than 4,000 people were repatriated to Iraq since the start of the year," she said. "Under an agreement we reached with the Iraqi government there will be two trip to Iraq each month."

Related Links
The Long War - Doctrine and Application

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
TERROR WARS
U.S., local officials say 'no specific credible' terror threats exist for upcoming Super Bowl
Washington DC (UPI) Feb 3, 2025
Officials say there are no "credible threats" to the looming Super Bowl in New Orleans after a New Year's Day terror attack killed 14 people and injured 57. Federal officials "recognize the importance of making sure that we're doing due diligence and being prepared for events as proactive as possible," said U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. "And pre-deploying resources and partnerships that will help us make sure that these events come off safely and with a focus on security." ... read more

TERROR WARS
TERROR WARS
Researchers analyze river bends to distinguish planetary channel origins

New evidence suggests gypsum deposits on Mars may hold signs of ancient life

Ancient beaches testify to long-ago ocean on Mars

Laser-powered spectrometer tested on Earth may uncover microbial fossils on Mars

TERROR WARS
NASA rolls out Artemis II Orion spacecraft, twin rocket boosters for moon mission

Oops, we tipped it again: Mission over for sideways US lander

Perfect Lunar Landing Achieved in Mare Crisium

US firm targets Moon landing with drill, rovers, hopping drone

TERROR WARS
NASA's Hubble Telescope May Have Uncovered a Triple System in the Kuiper Belt

NASA's Europa Clipper Leverages Mars for Critical Gravity Assist

Oort cloud resembles a galaxy, new study finds

The PI's Perspective: A New Mission Update for the New Year

TERROR WARS
Microbial traces found in desert rocks hint at unknown life form

'Dark oxygen': a deep-sea discovery that has split scientists

TOI-1453 system hosts contrasting super-Earth and low-mass sub-Neptune

U of A-built instrument reveals pictures of 'baby planets

TERROR WARS
From Contract to Orbit in Record Time for OroraTech Satellite Deployment

Airbus Selects Rocket Lab to Supply Solar Panels for Next-Gen OneWeb Satellites

Musk's SpaceX faces new setback after Starship explosion

European rocket successfully carries out first commercial mission

TERROR WARS
China advances manned lunar program for 2030 moon landing

Shenzhou XIX crew successfully tests pipeline inspection robot on space station

Shenzhou 19 Crew Advances Scientific Research and Conducts Training in Space

Moon-Exposed Grass Seeds to Be Cultivated on Earth

TERROR WARS
First CubeSat Selected for ESA's Ramses Mission to Asteroid Apophis

NASA Selects Scientists to Join Lucy Mission Studying Jupiter's Trojan Asteroids

NASA's Lucy Spacecraft Takes Its 1st Images of Asteroid Donaldjohanson

Asteroid 2024 YR4 No Longer a Significant Impact Threat

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.