Preventing ISIS’ Rising Resurgence After Syria’s Power Shift

Introduction

In January 2026, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that it began transferring detainees from Syria to Iraq, starting with 150 high‑risk prisoners from Hasakah and potentially involving up to 7,000 individuals overall. Many challenges threaten this process.

The abrupt handover of Islamic State (ISIS) detention facilities and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in northeast Syria to Syrian transitional government forces  has significantly weakened local security structures.