An Iraqi court began the trial of six French nationals accused of ties to the Islamic State group, known as Daesh, as Iraq expands its efforts to prosecute thousands of suspected militants. The trial commenced on Sunday, with the identities of the defendants not publicly disclosed. They are among 47 French citizens transferred from Syrian detention facilities to Iraqi custody last year.
These transfers form part of a broader movement of detainees held by Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to Iraqi prisons, which were already congested with Daesh suspects. In February, over 5,700 suspected militants from more than 60 countries were moved to Iraq following years of imprisonment in Syria. The transferred detainees include at least five French nationals, some reportedly minors at the time their parents joined Daesh.
Among the larger group of French citizens transferred is Adrien Guibal, who claimed responsibility for the 2016 Nice truck attack on behalf of Daesh. The trial of the six French suspects follows the completion of their interrogations and marks the next phase of Iraq’s judicial process against foreign fighters linked to the group.
Daesh, which seized large portions of Syria and Iraq starting in 2014, orchestrated widespread violence, including massacres and systematic sexual enslavement, before its territorial defeat. Iraq declared victory over Daesh in 2017 with backing from US-led coalition forces, while the SDF eradicated the group’s remaining presence in Syria two years later. Despite these military defeats, Iraq continues to contend with the aftermath, which includes the discovery of mass graves and ongoing investigations into Daesh atrocities.
Iraq’s courts have issued numerous death sentences and life imprisonments in terrorism cases, notably against foreign nationals. In 2019, 11 French individuals received death penalties that were subsequently commuted to life sentences. Human rights organizations have criticized these trials, characterizing them as expedited and lacking robust due process safeguards.
In France, the issue of repatriating Daesh suspects and their families remains deeply divisive. French legal representatives have pressed for the return of nationals held abroad, citing concerns about the possibility of capital punishment in Iraqi proceedings.
In addition to the French trials, Iraqi authorities have recently cleared hundreds of Syrians detained in the region, announcing the planned release of over 450 individuals after investigations found insufficient evidence for prosecution. Earlier this year, Iraq repatriated two foreign detainees, a Finnish national and a US citizen, after they were exonerated.
On the same day the trial began, an explosion was reported near Irbil airport in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, a site hosting US-led coalition forces. Iraqi Kurdish counterterrorism officials attributed the detonations to military training exercises and dismissed concerns of any actual threat. Local media and witnesses observed smoke rising near the airport, consistent with coalition forces conducting ordnance detonation.
The US-led coalition, which helped defeat Daesh, is scheduled to complete its withdrawal from Iraq by the end of September. Its forces have progressively vacated bases throughout the country and are currently deployed only at Irbil airport. The coalition’s presence has been contentious, frequently targeted by Iran-backed militias operating in Iraq, leading to recurring attacks involving explosive-laden drones and other hostile actions, particularly amid the broader Middle East conflict ongoing since February.