The wife of a senior Islamic State leader killed in a U.S. raid earlier this year has been transferred to the government of Iraq, the Pentagon announced Thursday night.
Nasrin As’ad Ibrahim, also known as Umm Sayyaf, had been detained by U.S. forces in Iraq since May, when her husband, Abu Sayyaf, was killed in a special operations raid. Umm Sayyaf, a suspected member of the Islamic State herself, was transferred to the custody of Iraq on Thursday after being questioned and detained for months by U.S. officials.
“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,” the Defense Department said.
Both Umm Sayyaf and her husband were suspected of being involved with the Islamic State’s hostage operations.
Her capture on the battlefield raised questions about where terrorists captured in the war on the Islamic State would be sent as President Obama tries to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay.
