Iraqi authorities reported today, Thursday, that they have returned more than 1900 Syrian soldiers and officers who fled to Iraq before the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, handing them over to Syrian forces at the Al-Qaim border crossing.

Additionally, 36 Syrian employees from the Al-Bukamal crossing were returned at their request. The Iraqi government had allowed the entry of the Syrian soldiers on December 7, prior to the fall of Assad, and provided shelter and prepared their weapons.