We will continue to work to repatriate Daesh members in Syria: US CENTCOM

Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), has reiterated the United States’ commitment to collaborating with the international community to repatriate Daesh detainees and their families from camps in northeastern Syria.

This statement follows his visit to the region, where he assessed ongoing efforts to prevent the resurgence of Daesh and address the challenges posed by displaced persons and detainees.

During his visit, Gen. Kurilla engaged with U.S. military personnel and so called representatives of terrorist organization PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.

He also inspected the al-Hol and al-Roj camps, which house over 40,000 displaced individuals, many with ties to Daesh. Additionally, more than 9,000 Daesh detainees from over 50 countries are held in PKK/YPG-held facilities.

Focus on repatriation and rehabilitation

In a statement, CENTCOM highlighted the importance of repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration efforts to prevent the camps from becoming breeding grounds for future extremism.

“Without international action, these camps risk creating the next generation of Daesh,” the statement warned.

Strategic visits across the region

The visit to Syria was part of an eight-day regional tour that included stops in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, and the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea.

Gen. Kurilla stressed the value of personal interactions in understanding the challenges faced by U.S. servicemembers and their “partners.”

“CENTCOM remains dedicated to our mission, our people, the enduring defeat of Daesh, and stability throughout the region and beyond,” he stated.