Yasser Mutlaq al-Jubouri, head of the Fawasel Center for Studies, said the United States remains a central player in shaping the balance of power in the Middle East, stressing that the issue of ISIS detainees held in Syria represents an additional leverage point for the Damascus government.
Al-Jubouri argued that transferring ISIS detainees to Iraq would be the most appropriate and secure option, noting that detention under Iraqi sovereignty, with international monitoring, would be safer and more effective than keeping them in Syrian territory.
He pointed out that Iraq has prior experience in managing such files, particularly after the 2014 events, when camps housing ISIS families were administered under direct government supervision and in cooperation with international organizations. According to al-Jubouri, those efforts produced positive outcomes in service provision, rehabilitation, and social stabilization.
Addressing the ideological dimension, al-Jubouri emphasized that extremism cannot be confronted through security measures alone. He stressed that lasting change requires intellectual and social rehabilitation programs aimed at reshaping deeply rooted beliefs—an approach he said has previously shown success inside Iraq.
Al-Jubouri rejected claims that the detainee issue is being used by Washington as a pressure tool against Baghdad. Instead, he described U.S. involvement as supportive of the Iraqi government, highlighting that the United States continues to treat Iraq as a strategic partner in the region.
He acknowledged the ongoing competition between U.S. and Iranian influence within Iraq but said this rivalry does not undermine the strategic relationship between Baghdad and Washington. Rather, he noted that the partnership operates within complex regional dynamics while ultimately serving Iraq’s long-term security and stability.
