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Iraqi Warnings of ISIS Expansion in Syria and Concerns About Terrorist Infiltration
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Al-Hol camp and prisons housing ISIS elements represent "time bombs" threatening regional stability
Adi Abdul-Hadi, a leader in the Fatah Alliance, has revealed that more than 2,000 terrorists of Iraqi nationality remain in Syria, affiliated with various extremist organizations, posing a serious security threat to Iraq.
In a statement to the "Baghdad Today" website, Abdul-Hadi indicated that a significant number of ISIS elements fled from Iraq to Syria after their defeat in Iraqi cities and integrated into areas considered extensions of their activities. Some eventually ended up in Al-Hol camp, which houses thousands of families associated with the organization from different nationalities.
He emphasized that "ISIS exploits the Homs and Deir ez-Zor desert to extend its influence, which enhances the importance of securing the extended borders between Iraq and Syria." Abdul-Hadi stressed the necessity of maintaining a state of security alert there to confront any infiltration attempts.
He also pointed out that terrorist organizations remain a card used by some international intelligence circles to achieve political goals. Abdul-Hadi called on the Iraqi government to strengthen security measures at the borders and to recover Iraqi terrorists for prosecution according to the law.
The Syrian Democratic Forces prisons in northern and eastern Syria represent one of the most prominent security challenges, as they house thousands of ISIS detainees, including prominent leaders involved in terrorist operations inside Iraq.
Al-Hol camp, described as a "ticking time bomb," raises increasing concern, as recent years have witnessed repeated escape attempts, most notably the bloody attack on Ghweran prison in Hasakah in 2022.
With the escalating risk of infiltration of organization elements from Syria into Iraq, calls are increasing to enhance border security and take strict preventive measures to contain the threat before it worsens.
