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U.S. hands over detainees to Iraq, with one exception

U.S. officials in Iraq have handed over to the Iraqi government all detainees in their custody as the Obama administration prepares to withdraw, the Pentagon said on Tuesday, with the exception of one high profile prisoner. Lieutenant Colonel Todd Breasseale, a Pentagon spokesman, said the detainee handover had been completed as of Tuesday, with the […]

Missy Ryan reports for Reuters:

U.S. officials in Iraq have handed over to the Iraqi government all detainees in their custody as the Obama administration prepares to withdraw, the Pentagon said on Tuesday, with the exception of one high profile prisoner.

Lieutenant Colonel Todd Breasseale, a Pentagon spokesman, said the detainee handover had been completed as of Tuesday, with the exception of Ali Mussa Daqduq, who U.S. officials say is an operative for the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

"Since the process began a few years ago, we've been working to complete this transfer safely and securely in a way that wouldn't overburden the Iraqi system," Breasseale said.

"Mr. Daqduq remains in US custody. There are serious and ongoing deliberations about how to handle this individual in order to protect U.S. service members as well as broader US interests," he said.