The United States military has started a large operation. They are moving Islamic State (ISIL) prisoners from Syria to Iraq. This is important to stop the group from becoming strong again. The move happened after a ceasefire was agreed. It shows big changes in Syria. Syria's government will now play a bigger part in fighting terrorism.
US Central Command said about 150 IS fighters were moved. They came from prisons in Hassakeh province. Syrian government forces are now moving into areas before held by Kurdish forces. The Kurdish forces are leaving prison sites. Now, Syria and Iraq must keep thousands of IS members and their families safe. This is why the US and Iraq are working together.
Admiral Brad Cooper leads US forces in the Middle East. He said moving the prisoners is very important. This helps prevent big escapes that could harm the region. Admiral Cooper said they are working closely with Iraq. He thanked Iraq for helping to defeat ISIS. About 7,000 people with ISIL links might be moved later.
Syria's political situation has changed a lot. The US now sees Damascus as its main partner against ISIL. This is different from before, when they worked with Kurdish forces. A ceasefire was also agreed to stop fighting. However, there are reports of new attacks. This makes people wonder if the new plans will be stable.
A human rights group called Reprieve has concerns. They worry prisoners sent to Iraq might be tortured or killed. They asked the UK government to check for British citizens. It is not clear how many people are being moved. But there are some adult men and many children.
Moving these prisoners is difficult and dangerous. The US military is carefully moving people from Syria to safe places in Iraq. This is risky because of past escapes. The success of this operation is a big test. It shows how security is changing in Syria and the Middle East.