Iraq Moves to End Al-Hol Camp Crisis as Repatriations Continue

Iraq Moves to End Al-Hol Camp Crisis as Repatriations Continue
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Iraq’s National Security Adviser Qassem al-Araji announced on Monday that the issue of Syria’s al-Hol camp will be fully resolved by the end of this year. Al-Araji told the press that Iraq is now in a stronger and improved position compared to previous years, noting that the country is increasingly regarded positively by regional states.

Al-Hol camp, located in northeastern Syria’s al-Hasakah province, shelters tens of thousands of refugees and displaced persons from Syria and Iraq, many of whom are relatives of ISIS members. The camp’s population is estimated between 40,000 and 50,000, including thousands of Iraqis. It is considered a hotbed of extremism, with ongoing security concerns.

In 2025, Iraq has conducted several repatriation operations, returning thousands of its citizens from al-Hol. The 28th batch included about 812 people (233 families), while earlier large groups were repatriated in April (241 families, 865 people) and June (935 individuals). By midyear, over 15,000 Iraqis had been brought back, while approximately 18,000 remain in the camp undergoing security screening and tribal rehabilitation.