Defense Department Announces the Transfer of Umm Sayyaf
Aug. 6, 2015

Earlier today, Nasrin As’ad Ibrahim, also known as Umm Sayyaf, a suspected member of ISIL who has been detained by U.S. forces in Iraq since May 15, was transferred to the custody of the Government of Iraq. Umm Sayyaf is now being held by the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Interior.

Umm Sayyaf was the wife of a senior ISIL leader, Abu Sayyaf. Abu Sayyaf was killed by U.S. Special Operations Forces during a raid in Syria.

The decision to transfer Umm Sayyaf to the Iraqi government was based on the U.S. government determination that the detainee’s transfer would be appropriate with respect to legal, diplomatic, intelligence, security, and law enforcement considerations.

This transfer is consistent with DoD policy to detain, interrogate, and, where appropriate, seek the prosecution of individuals who are captured on the battlefield.