Iraq repatriated 569 individuals from 155 families on Sunday as part of an ongoing effort to relocate Iraqi nationals from the al-Hol refugee camp in northeastern Syria. The operation, coordinated between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Iraqi government, marks the 21st such transfer since the program began.
The latest group of returnees is being transferred to Jadaa Camp, south of Mosul, where they will undergo security screenings and reintegration programs overseen by Iraqi authorities. This marks the fourth repatriation effort of 2025, with Iraqi officials planning to expedite the process by organizing at least two convoys per month.
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Al-Hol, located in Syria’s Al-Hasakah Governorate, is one of the most contentious refugee camps in the region, housing approximately 15,000 Iraqis, along with thousands of displaced Syrians and the families of former Islamic State (IS) fighters. Many foreign governments remain reluctant to repatriate their citizens, citing security concerns.
The camp has long been associated with IS-affiliated families, and its poor security conditions have made it a hotspot for criminal activity and radicalization. Iraqi authorities have been gradually repatriating their nationals, aiming to reduce the risk of extremism while reintegrating former residents into society.
As repatriation efforts continue, the fate of thousands of non-Iraqi foreign nationals in al-Hol remains uncertain, as many of their home countries hesitate to take them back.