In a significant development, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone call on Friday to address the urgent situation of Islamic State (ISIS) detainees in northeastern Syria. The leaders discussed plans for the temporary transfer of foreign nationals linked to the extremist group from Syrian detention facilities to Iraqi prisons, underscoring the need for global cooperation in prosecuting them.

The conversation followed Wednesday’s announcement by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) that 150 ISIS detainees had already been moved from a detention facility in Hasaka, Syria, to a secure location in Iraq. CENTCOM indicated that up to 7,000 ISIS prisoners could eventually be relocated to Iraqi-controlled sites.

This move comes amid a severe security crisis in northeast Syria. Earlier this week, hundreds of ISIS prisoners reportedly escaped from facilities long managed by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) after they came under attack by armed groups affiliated with the Damascus government. Compounding the instability, Kurdish forces withdrew from the sprawling al-Hol camp, which houses approximately 25,000 family members of ISIS fighters. The camp is situated just 10 kilometers from the Iraqi border, raising alarm that individuals with ISIS ties might attempt to cross into Iraqi territory.

In their discussion, Prime Minister Sudani stressed “the importance of countries around the world, particularly European Union member states, assuming their responsibilities by receiving country nationals, ensuring their prosecution, and ensuring that they are tried and punished fairly.” This echoes repeated calls from Kurdish authorities in northeast Syria for nations to repatriate their citizens held in camps and prisons for terror-related crimes.

Sudani also expressed appreciation for France’s role in the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS and affirmed continued bilateral cooperation on security and defense. President Macron, in turn, praised Iraq’s international stance supporting regional stability and “sustainable solutions.” He reaffirmed France’s commitment to providing technical and financial support to address the challenge of detained ISIS individuals.

Separately, on Friday, Syria’s government army announced the transfer of SDF members from al-Aqtan prison in Raqqa province to the Kurdish-held town of Kobane as part of a ceasefire agreement. This marks an initial step in implementing a January 18 deal between Syrian and SDF officials to transfer control of certain detention facilities to Syria’s interior ministry.