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Statement

Statement | Jan. 16, 2025

USCENTCOM Commander Visits Syria

USCENTCOM

Statement
Jan. 16, 2025

On 16 January, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), traveled to Syria, where he met U.S. military commanders and servicemembers, as well as our Defeat-ISIS partners, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), to get an assessment on the ongoing Defeat-ISIS campaign and efforts to prevent the resurgence of the terrorist group in the region as well as the evolving situation in Syria.

Maj. Gen. Kevin Leahy, Commander of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), and Brig. Gen. Michael Brooks, commander, Combined Special Operations Joint Task Force- Levant (CSOJTF-L), accompanied Gen. Kurilla in Syria.

Gen. Kurilla also visited the al-Hol displaced persons camp in northeast Syria. Al-Hol and al-Roj camps house over 40,000 displaced personnel, many with ties to ISIS. Without international repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration efforts, these camps risk creating the next generation of ISIS. Additionally, over 9,000 ISIS detainees from over 50 different countries remain in over a dozen SDF guarded detention facilities in Syria, a literal and figurative 'ISIS Army' in detention.

Gen. Kurilla emphasized that CENTCOM remains focused on supporting the repatriation of al Hol and al-Roj camp residents back to their countries of origin. Gen. Kurilla also reiterated CENTCOM will continue to work with the international community to transfer ISIS fighters to their countries of origin for final adjudication.

Gen. Kurilla’s visit to Syria capped off an eight-day trip to nine locations: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in the Red Sea, Egypt, Lebanon, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, and Syria.

“Personal, face to face interaction is key to understanding the challenges and opportunities our U.S. servicemembers and partners face on a daily basis. CENTCOM remains dedicated to our mission, our people, the enduring defeat of ISIS, and stability throughout the region and beyond,” said Gen. Kurilla.