BAGHDAD (Dispatches) – Iraqi authorities have completed preliminary questioning of 5,700 Daesh suspects transferred from Syria, judicial officials said on Wednesday, as Baghdad faces mounting U.S. pressure to disarm resistance factions while simultaneously being urged to extend the American troop presence beyond the agreed deadline.
The suspects, who include Iraqi nationals and foreign fighters, were handed over by Syrian authorities following the fall of the Assad government in December 2025. Iraqi judicial sources said the questioning focused on determining the degree of involvement of each suspect in Daesh operations, with cases referred to specialized courts for further proceedings.
“All suspects have been subjected to thorough preliminary investigations,” a senior Iraqi judicial official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Those found to have directly participated in terrorist activities will face trial, while others may be released or transferred to their home countries.”
The mass transfer comes as Iraq continues to grapple with the legacy of Daesh, which overran large parts of the country in 2014 before being defeated by Iraqi resistance forces, including the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), with support from Iran.  
The relationship between Baghdad and Washington has grown increasingly strained over the fate of anti-terror forces. US officials have been pressuring the Iraqi government to disarm and dismantle the PMF and other resistance factions. The PMF, now integrated into Iraq’s state security apparatus, has rejected U.S. demands, insisting that its forces are a legitimate part of the Iraqi military.
At the same time, Washington has reportedly requested an extension of the U.S. troop presence in Iraq beyond the December 2026 deadline agreed for withdrawal. The United States currently maintains approximately 2,500 troops in Iraq, primarily in bases in Baghdad and Erbil, as part of the ongoing anti-Daesh mission.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has found himself caught between U.S. pressure and the demands of political factions allied with the PMF, who have called for a complete U.S. withdrawal.
“The Americans want us to disarm our resistance forces while asking to stay longer on our soil,” a senior Iraqi official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Iraq’s sovereignty is not negotiable. Our forces defeated Daesh, and we are capable of securing our own country.”
Iraq has repeatedly stated that the U.S. troop presence is no longer necessary, with Iraqi forces now capable of maintaining internal security.