KRG interior minister warns of ISIS threat as coalition presence draws down

DUHOK — The Kurdistan Regional Government minister of interior has expressed growing concern over the resurgence of ISIS and emphasised the necessity of continued Coalition forces’ presence in Iraq to combat the group effectively. Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed spoke during the MEPS24 conference in Duhok, highlighting ideological and security challenges posed by the militant group.

In September 2024, the United States and Iraq reached an agreement to conclude the military mission of the U. S.-led coalition against ISIS by September 2025. This transition will shift the focus to bilateral security partnerships aimed at supporting Iraqi forces and maintaining pressure on ISIS.

“We believe that ISIS is not finished yet,” Ahmed said. “The most important issue with ISIS and other terrorist and fundamentalist groups is their ideology. Nobody is addressing this ideology in Iraq or globally. We believe ISIS is now stronger than when they emerged in 2014. Back then, there were just a few hundred; now, they number in the thousands, not only in Iraq and Syria but worldwide, even operating in European countries.”.

Ahmed underscored the necessity of Coalition support for security efforts in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. “We still need the coalition forces to help defeat ISIS militarily and ideologically,” he stated. “Iraqi security forces have not yet shown the capacity to track and target ISIS activities without international support. We need to strengthen coordination between Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and the Coalition forces to finish this fight.”.

The agreement between the United States and Iraq outlines a two-phase plan: the first phase involves ending the coalition’s military mission and withdrawing forces from certain locations in Iraq by September 2025; the second phase includes a comprehensive assessment to determine the future scope of U. S. involvement.

Qasim Al-Araji, Iraq’s National Security Advisor, offered a different perspective, advocating for a shift toward bilateral security partnerships between Iraq and Coalition members rather than reliance on foreign military presence.

“The International Coalition played a significant role in helping the Iraqi army defeat ISIS, as did the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Al-Araji said. “However, the current phase calls for transforming these relationships into bilateral security agreements between Iraq and Coalition member states. This doesn’t preclude continued intelligence cooperation to confront terrorism, but we’ve agreed to a two-year timeline to evaluate the situation and make further decisions.”.

Al-Araji also detailed Iraq’s efforts to address ISIS-related issues domestically. “We have repatriated 2,640 families from Al-Hol camp to the Jadaa camp in northern Iraq, with 2,240 families already reintegrated into their original homes across seven provinces without major security or social issues. Only 400 families remain in the reintegration process,” he said. Additionally, Iraq has received 2,760 ISIS-affiliated detainees from the Syrian Democratic Forces, transferring them to Iraqi prisons for trial.

Rebar Ahmed highlighted the importance of cooperation between Peshmerga and Iraqi forces in addressing security challenges in the disputed areas, particularly around Kirkuk. He noted the establishment of two joint brigades, which have successfully conducted coordinated operations in regions with security vacuums. Ahmed emphasized that this collaboration is crucial to preventing the resurgence of ISIS and ensuring stability in these historically vulnerable territories. He called for continued efforts to bridge gaps between Erbil and Baghdad while fostering stronger partnerships with the international community to address shared security concerns.

Rebar Ahmed emphasized the necessity of cooperation between Peshmerga and Iraqi forces to address security gaps in the disputed territories, particularly in areas like southern Kirkuk. He noted the establishment of two joint brigades comprising Peshmerga and Iraqi forces, which have already conducted successful operations in regions with significant security vacuums. Ahmed highlighted that this collaboration is essential to prevent the resurgence of ISIS and foster stability in these historically volatile regions.

Former U. S. diplomat Ambassador Peter W. Galbraith brought attention to the humanitarian and security crisis in northeast Syria, focusing on the approximately 70,000 detainees held in Al-Hol and Roj camps. Among them are 10,000 foreign nationals, including 4,000 adults and 7,000 children, living in deplorable conditions. “These are prisons. They are called camps but this gives the wrong impression. they are prisons,” Galbraith stated, describing the lack of sanitation, education, and healthcare. He warned that many women in these camps continue to embrace ISIS’s extremist ideology, creating a breeding ground for the next generation of ISIS fighters and underscoring the situation as both a humanitarian and security threat.

Galbraith criticized the international community’s inaction in repatriating detainees, stressing that after six years, meaningful progress remains elusive. He proposed three potential solutions: establishing foster care systems in northeast Syria or Iraq, creating specialized “children’s villages” based on post-World War II models, or separating children from their mothers to encourage repatriation. “Separating children from their mothers may sound harsh, but what is the alternative?” he asked, warning that boys removed from the camps at 13 or 14 often end up in rehabilitation centers before transitioning to adult prisons alongside hardened ISIS fighters.