US transfers widow of top IS figure to Iraqi custody
Umm Sayyaf, the wife of a key Islamic State commander who was captured after a U.S. operation in Syria that killed her husband, has been transferred to the Iraqi government, the Pentagon announced late Thursday.
While in U.S. custody in the Kurish city of Irbil, Umm Sayyaf was cooperative and provided a “trove” of intelligence about IS operations, U.S. officials said. Her transfer transfer suggests she will not face U.S. charges in the kidnapping and death of American hostage Kayla Mueller.
Nasrin As’ad Ibrahim – also known as Umm Sayyaf or “Mother of Sayyaf” – was the wife of Abu Sayyaf or “Father of Sayyaf”, who was killed in a US special forces raid in Syria in May.
U.S. officials explained the transfer decision by saying the Iraqi government does not extradite its citizens, meaning that it would be much harder to bring her to the United States for trial.
“Administration officials said they were in contact with Ms. Mueller’s family prior to releasing Umm Sayyaf”.
A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a high-profile militant, said the transfer to Iraqi Kurdish custody “was done with the knowledge and consent of the Iraqi government in Baghdad”.
The legal status of the captive Umm Sayyaf was unclear after the raid, but US officials have alleged that she was a member of the Islamic State group in her own right.