Foreign Minister: The government returned 3,000 Iraqi terrorist fighters detained in Syria

INA-  Baghdad


Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein affirmed Thursday the government's determination to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, while indicating that 3,000 Iraqi terrorist fighters detained in Syria have been returned and most of them have been tried.

The spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Al-Sahhaf, said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fouad Hussein delivered Iraq's speech at the ministerial meeting of the international coalition to fight ISIS in the Saudi capital, Riyadh."

In Iraq's speech, Hussein stressed that "the Iraqi government is working to improve services and infrastructure, move the economy forward and combat corruption," indicating that it is "determined to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and to enhance stability in liberated areas, return the displaced, and pursue the remnants of ISIS terrorist gangs."

He continued, "The Iraqi security forces are following up the preemptive and intelligence operations to pursue the remnants of ISIS terrorist gangs and their sleeper cells, to prevent them from planning and carrying out attacks, depriving them of safe havens and drying up their sources of funding. These efforts have led to a significant reduction in the level of attacks during the first half of this year."

He pointed out, "The Iraqi government is working hard to end the file of internal displacement, and (148) camps for the displaced have already been closed, while two camps remain in the provinces of Nineveh and Anbar, and (26) camps in the Kurdistan region."

He stated, "The Iraqi government welcomes the extension of the transitional period of the FFS Stabilization Fund for the period 2024-2026, and highly appreciates the international efforts made, especially the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the supporting agencies and organizations, and in cooperation with the Iraqi government, to restore stability in the liberated areas that still need a lot of efforts." 

He pointed out, "The Iraqi government thanks the international community, especially the partners in restoring stability, for their continuous support and contribution to the Stabilization Fund and projects to rebuild infrastructure and basic services, and looks forward to the contribution of member states in the 2023-2024 budget to complete the completion of projects that will restore services, infrastructure, and the rehabilitation of homes in the liberated areas to facilitate the return of the remaining displaced persons.

He explained, "The Iraqi government pays special attention to Al-Hol camp and gives it priority," stressing "the need to find a real solution to this crisis, which represents a challenge and potential threat to regional and international security and stability."

He continued, "The Iraqi government has returned about 1,400 families, or more than five thousand people, to the Jada'a Center for Psychological and Community Rehabilitation, and the integration of 680 families in their areas of origin after undergoing rehabilitation programs in the aforementioned center," explaining that "about 3,000,000 terrorist fighters Iraqis detained in Syria, were returned and most of them were tried.”