BAGHDAD, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces received Thursday 150 Islamic State (IS) militants captured by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in neighboring Syria, a tribal leader told Xinhua.
"The SDF handed over a total of 150 IS militants to al-Jazira Operations Command in Iraq's western province of Anbar after arresting them during the battles of liberating the last IS stronghold in Baghouz area in eastern Syria," Qateri al-Obaidi, from the government-backed paramilitary tribal fighters of Anbar province, told Xinhua.
"Most of the IS militants received by the Iraqi forces were criminals wanted by Iraqi authorities, for committing killings and torture against Iraqi civilians as well as fighting against Iraqi security forces," al-Obaidi added.
The handover process between Iraqi forces and SDF was carried out through cooperation between the Iraqi army and the Iraqi intelligence service," he said.
Separately, an Iraqi army brigade general, who spoke anonymously to Xinhua, said that among the 150 detainees received from SDF were women and children, noting that they will be handed over to concerned authorities for further scrutinize.
Earlier in the month, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that around 200 IS militants surrendered to the SDF as part of an undeclared deal in the eastern Euphrates.
Later, media reports said that the U.S.-backed SDF detained more than 900 foreign fighters during their campaign against the IS in northeastern Syria, after it has captured the town of Baghouz, which was the last IS-held area in the eastern Euphrates River region in eastern Deir al-Zour province.
