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Shafaq News
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq repatriates over 180 families from Syria's al-Hol camp
Shafaq News/ Over 180 Iraqi families were repatriated from Syria's al-Hol camp to Iraq's Nineveh province on Saturday, in the latest phase of Baghdad's ongoing return program. The transfer, which included 186 families of 681 individuals, marked the seventh repatriation operation since the start of 2025 and the 24th overall, according to Shukri al-Hajji, head of the camp's departure office. 'This year's goal is to return all Iraqi families willing to go back, in coordination with the Syrian Democratic Administration and the Iraqi government,' he told Shafaq News. Roughly 20 buses transported the group through the al-Yarubiyah border crossing, east of al-Hasakah. The convoy was accompanied by tight security, including surveillance and air support from US Global Coalition helicopters and fighter jets to ensure safe passage. Ali Abdullah, head of Iraq's National Committee for Implementing the Strategy to Combat Violent Extremism, said last week that al-Hol still houses approximately 16,000 Iraqis, noting that Iraq's al-Jada'a camp continues to receive returnees, and authorities are working to support their reintegration. Iraq has been working with international organizations since 2021 to return its citizens from al-Hol. Families are first brought to the al-Jada'a camp for psychological and social rehabilitation before returning to their home communities — a process that has triggered recurring opposition, particularly in Nineveh, where families of ISIS victims have expressedconcern.
Asharq Al-Awsat
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Iraq Counts Citizens in Syria's Al-Hol, Plans Reintegration Efforts
Iraq said around 16,000 of its citizens remain in Syria's al-Hol camp, which houses families linked to ISIS. Ali Abdullah, an official at the National Security Advisory, said on Friday that the camp hosts people of various nationalities, but Iraqi authorities are focusing on the humanitarian and security needs of their own citizens, who make up 16,000 of the camp's population. Iraq is urging other countries to repatriate their citizens from Syria's al-Hol camp, warning that their prolonged presence poses a threat to regional security, a senior official said, as Baghdad continues efforts to bring its nationals home. Ali Abdullah, also head of Iraq's Counter-Extremism Committee, told state media that the government is working to return Iraqis from al-Hol, with large numbers being received at the Jadaa camp near Mosul. 'We are facilitating their reintegration and return to their home areas,' he said. Abdullah said Iraq has a 'clear vision' for promoting moderation and will launch several key programs by 2025 across provinces and ministries, including initiatives to integrate displaced Iraqis returning from camps. The Iraqi government has decided to close all displacement camps, prompting the national committee to draft plans for reintegrating returnees into their original communities, according to the National Security Advisory. Iraqi authorities have also been grappling with the fallout from a recent US decision to cut funding for humanitarian organizations operating in the country. On March 10, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced an 83% reduction in US Agency for International Development (USAID) programs following a six-week review, affecting aid projects for displaced people. On March 13, Iraq repatriated more than 150 Iraqi families from al-Hol to the Jadaa camp, an Iraqi security official said. Al-Hol, one of the largest camps in northeast Syria, is under the control of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). It was established in 1991 during the Gulf War to shelter Iraqi families fleeing to Syria.
Iraqi News
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
National Security Advisor: Iraq is leading international efforts to combat extremism and integrate displaced persons
Baghdad-INA Ali Abdullah chairman of the National Committee on the Implementation of the Strategy to Combat Violent Extremism, , affirmed on Friday that Iraq is leading major international efforts to combat violent extremism. He also explained that the United Nations recognized the International Day for Combating Violent Extremism based on an Iraqi proposal. In a statement to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Abdullah said, "The United Nations recognized the International Day for Combating Violent Extremism based on an Iraqi proposal, a step that reflects Iraq's commitment to confronting extremist ideology and strengthening social cohesion." The statement explained that "Iraq has a clear vision for consolidating moderate concepts," noting that "a set of important programs will be launched by 2025 in various governorates and ministries, most notably the integration of displaced persons returning from displacement camps." It pointed out that "the government has decided to close all camps in Iraq, prompting the National Committee to develop plans and programs to support this decision. These programs will be implemented throughout 2025 to ensure the integration of returnees into their communities of origin." Regarding Al-Hol camp, Abdullah explained that "the camp multiple nationalities, but the focus is on Iraqis, as 16,000 Iraqis remain in the camp." It emphasized that "efforts are underway to repatriate Iraqis, and other countries must repatriate their nationals, as their continued presence in the camp poses a threat to regional security." It explained that "the process of repatriating Iraqis from Al-Hol camp is ongoing, with Al-Jadaa camp receiving large numbers of returnees, and we are working to facilitate their integration and return to their areas of origin."
