SULAIMANI (ESTA) — A top U.S. general for the Middle East said he is seeing return of Iraqis at a camp under the control of Kurdish fighters in northeast Syria as a hopeful sign in a long-frustrated effort to repatriate thousands from the camp.
The Iraqi government is expected for the first time to bring home about 100 Iraqi families from al-Hol camp, known as a breeding ground for young insurgents.
Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie expressed optimism that the transfer from the camp would happen, according to The Associated press.
“it would be the first step in many such repatriations, and I think that’s going to be the key to bring down the population in the al-Hol camp, and indeed in other camps across the region,” AP quoted McKenzie as saying.
He went to Syria on an unannounced visit on Friday. The U.S. general met with troops and commanders there.
“Nations need to bring back their citizens, repatriate them, reintegrate them, deradicalize them when necessary and make them productive elements of society,” he told reporters traveling with him into Syria.
AP cited a senior U.S. official as saying that the transfer of people from the camp was one of a number of issues the U.S. and Iraqi governments were discussing as they work out a roadmap for future diplomatic and military relations.
It came up during meetings on Thursday when McKenzie made an unannounced stop in Baghdad.
The al-Hol camp is home to as many as 70,000 people who have been displaced by the civil war in Syria and the fight against Islamic State (ISIS) militants. As many as half are Iraqis.
Around 10,000 foreigners are housed in secure annex, and many in the camp remain die-hard ISIS supporters.
Kurdish authorities have warned that the camp is turning into an extremist powder keg due to ISIS militants hiding out among camp residents.
The SDF have repeatedly called on the international community to repatriate their citizens held in northeast Syria.
In late March, the main U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched a five-day sweep inside the camp. At least 125 suspects were detained.
