News / Iraq

Iraq hands over four Daesh wives, 27 children to Russia

Friday, 23 February 2018 12:08 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 23 February 2018 12:08 AM ]

Families and relatives of Daesh Takfiri militants are seen after surrendering themselves to the Kurdish Peshmerga forces in al-Ayadiya, northwest of Tal Afar, Iraq, on August 30, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

Iraqi authorities have extradited four women and more than two dozen children from the families of Daesh Takfiri terrorists to Russian authorities.

“Iraq has handed over four women and 27 children from the families of those who have been brainwashed to join Daesh,” Arabic-language al-Sumaria television network quoted Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Mahjoub as saying on Thursday.

“There was no proof that those extradited had been involved in terrorist operations against Iraqi civilians or security forces,” he said, adding, “They will be prosecuted in Russia for illegally entering Iraq.”

Earlier, Iraq’s Arabic-language al-Mashriq newspaper reported that more than 1,500 women and children from the families of Daesh militants are currently being held in the conflict-stricken Arab country, and that the Baghdad government is coordinating with their respective countries to decide their fate.

Additionally, Iraqi government spokesman Saad al-Hadithi said, “All foreign nationals who have committed crimes and acts of terror against Iraqi people, either directly or through support for Daesh terrorists, will be subject to the Iraqi law.”

He added, “This also applies to foreign women of Daesh militants. The government is coordinating with the countries to which the detainees belong. They will be handed over to their respective countries once they are found not to have committed criminal acts or engaged in killings and bombings in Iraq.”

Families and relatives of Daesh Takfiri militants are seen after surrendering themselves to the Kurdish Peshmerga forces in al-Ayadiya, northwest of Tal Afar, Iraq, on August 30, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

On December 9, 2017, Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared the end of military operations against the Daesh terrorist group in the Arab country.

On July 10, Abadi formally declared victory over Daesh extremists in Mosul, which served as the terrorists’ main urban stronghold in the conflict-ridden Arab country.

In the run-up to Mosul's liberation, Iraqi army soldiers and volunteer Hashd al-Sha’abi fighters had made sweeping gains against Daesh.

The Iraqi forces took control of eastern Mosul in January 2017 after 100 days of fighting, and launched the battle in the west on February 19 last year.

Daesh began a terror campaign in Iraq in 2014, overrunning vast swathes in lightning attacks.

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