The Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement announced that it has repatriated 15,000 Iraqi nationals from the al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria, with 10,000 already returned to their home regions across the country, as reported by state media on July 27.

Syrian Kurdish authorities have held thousands of foreign citizens since the beginning of the Syrian civil war in 2011, including European and Canadian citizens, as well as fighters from across the world. A significant number of the fighters and their families had previously crossed the border from Iraq earlier in the war. 

According to Karim Al-Nouri, the Deputy Minister of Migration, the process of repatriating displaced persons from the camp is ongoing as part of efforts to “integrate them and transfer them back to their communities.”

He noted that “most of the Iraqis formerly residing in al-Hol have been returned, while 5,000 remain in Iraq’s al-Jadaa camp, where they are undergoing rehabilitation before their return.”

Al-Nouri also confirmed that approximately 18,000 Iraqis are still in al-Hol, which is located in Hasakah province in northeastern Syria. He said they will be brought home “once security vetting allows.”

The camp houses families of former ISIS fighters, the majority of whom are from Iraq and Syria, along with nationals from other countries.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi Ministry of Health announced on July 26 the handover of the remains of 20 victims killed by ISIS in 2014 during the notorious Badush Prison massacre in Nineveh province. These remains have been matched to victims through forensic analysis and returned to their families.

Ahmed Munaem, Head of the Forensic Data Unit at the Department of Mass Graves, said, “This batch is the fourth confirmed group and includes 20 martyrs, bringing the total number of identified and returned victims to 171.”

He added that the remains are being distributed “based on the victims’ place of residence through forensic medicine departments in each province.”

The Ministry of Health reaffirmed its commitment to continuing humanitarian and forensic efforts to identify and return the remaining victims, noting that new batches will be announced soon.

“This is part of a comprehensive plan to close the Badush massacre file and ensure justice and recognition for the families of the victims,” the ministry added.