Ceasefire in Syria extended by 15 days

The extension is intended to facilitate the transfer of detainees from prisons for fighters of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist militia to Iraq, according to the Ministry of Defense.

In recent weeks, the Syrian transitional government has taken military action against the previously Kurdish-controlled areas in the north-east of the country. During the battles, the government troops were able to bring large areas under state control.

IS prisoners to be transferred to Iraq

The areas in the north-east of the country are also home to prisons and camps for IS fighters and their relatives, which were controlled by Kurdish forces until recently. Government forces have taken control of some of the camps and detention centers. Due to the fighting, there were concerns about a loss of control over the prisons and their inmates. Some detainees are said to have escaped.

As part of the ceasefire, the USA has begun to transfer dozens of imprisoned IS supporters to Iraq. The plan is to transfer up to 7,000 of them to the neighboring country. According to Iraqi sources, these are people with Iraqi and foreign citizenship.

Around 40 people with German citizenship

According to information from the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), German security authorities believe that around 40 people with German citizenship were in the custody of Kurdish forces before the offensive began. It is not clear whether they will also be transferred to Iraq. According to a spokesperson for the Federal Foreign Office, there are currently no plans to repatriate the detained men.

The ceasefire previously agreed on Tuesday expired in the evening at 8 p.m. (local time, 6 p.m. CET). During this time, the SDF were supposed to present a plan on how more of their institutions could be integrated into the Syrian national order. In March last year, both sides had agreed to integrate the previously Kurdish self-governing institutions into the state apparatus.