In a direct appeal amid mounting pressures, Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein has told the European Union that Baghdad cannot bear the sole financial and security burden of ISIS prisoners. Speaking over the phone with EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, Hussein insisted that countries of origin must contribute to managing their radicalized citizens captured in the fight against the Islamic State.
The discussion spotlighted Syria’s volatile northeast, particularly the SDF-run prisons from which ISIS inmates have recently escaped, raising alarms about potential attacks. Hussein pointed out that this is a collective challenge requiring Europe’s active involvement.
Key points included reinforcing ceasefires in Hasakah and supporting dialogue between the SDF and Syrian authorities for enforceable deals. Hussein’s updates on his Iran trip painted a picture of a ‘tense and dangerous’ Middle East, where EU partnerships are vital.
Kallas expressed gratitude for Iraq’s acceptance of 150 ISIS fighters transferred from Syria, a step under a broader initiative potentially involving 7,000 more, per U.S. Central Command. This follows Prime Minister al-Sudani’s similar outreach to French President Macron, pressing EU states to take back their ISIS-linked nationals.
As Iraq grapples with overcrowded jails and resurgent threats, the call for burden-sharing underscores a broader geopolitical reality: defeating ISIS was a team effort, and containment must be too. Failure to act could unleash chaos across borders.