Iraqi FM Fuad Hussein Warns of ISIS Threat from Syrian Prisons

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein expressed concern about ISIS fighters held in Syrian prisons. “ISIS has acquired new weapons in Syria,” he stated.

Hussein remarked during a foreign ministers’ conference in Saudi Arabia regarding the situation in Syria, “Syria is going through the same situation that Iraq went through in 2003. There have been some negative events in Iraq since 2003 that Syria should avoid.”

“Iraq is afraid of ISIS across the border, especially inside Syria, because they have recently acquired new weapons,” he added.

Hussein mentioned that there are 26 prisons controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) where thousands of ISIS leaders and members are detained. “We are afraid that these tensions will lead to the flight of these fighters,” he noted.

Fuad Hussein also highlighted the importance of coordination between the communities in Syria to achieve stability in the country.

Mazlum Abdi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), stated that 10,000 ISIS fighters and leaders are imprisoned in the facilities under their control.