Kurdish-run camps and prisons in northeastern Syria still hold about 56,000 people from dozens of countries, many with alleged or perceived links to the Islamic State group (IS), more than five years after its territorial defeat in Syria.

While many countries refuse to take back their nationals, Baghdad has taken the lead by accelerating repatriations and urging others to follow suit.

But Iraq was "surprised" by the US decision to cut aid, "which has disrupted the work" of humanitarian organisations, Araji said.

International aid organisations provide services for residents of the Syria camps, and projects in Iraq have also depended on hundreds of millions of dollars in US assistance in recent years, according to official figures.

After returning to office in January, however, US President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day freeze on all US foreign aid before slashing multi-year contracts by 92 percent last week.

"Iraq has a plan to... transfer all Iraqis" from Syria's Al-Hol camp to one in Iraq that still requires significant work and support from international organisations to accommodate arrivals, Araji said.

But "the only and main obstacle is halting aid to organisations, and Iraq cannot resolve this issue alone," he added, adding that authorities have sought help from the United Nations and the European Union.

Trump's decision has disturbed programmes worldwide, with rights groups raising the alarm that it would worsen an already poor situation in Syria's camps.

Al-Hol, managed by the US group Blumont, is the largest Kurdish-run camp, with more than 40,000 detainees from 47 countries living in dire conditions.

According to authorities, more than 13,000 Iraqis have left Al-Hol since 2021, while around 16,000 remain. Around 3,000 suspected Iraqi jihadists were also brought from Kurdish prisons, where another 2,000 remain.

"If the support to international organisations had not ceased, it would have been possible" to repatriate all Iraqis by the end of 2025, Araji said.

- 'Without delay' -

Iraq has intensified its efforts to bring back its nationals amid concerns about the security situation in Syria following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December, according to Araji.

Iraq, which has assured Damascus' new authorities of its support, shares more than 600 kilometres (375 miles) of border with Syria.

Araji urged Syria to address security issues without delay, adding Damascus had sent "assurances to Iraq of its cooperation in fighting terrorism".

Iraq remains scarred by the rise of IS in 2014, which saw the jihadists capture nearly a third of the country before local forces backed by a US-led coalition defeated them in Iraq in 2017.

Araji warned of a possible spillover from Syria's "precarious" Kurdish-run northeast, saying jihadists might attempt to escape from prisons.

"Any disruption to the security situation in that area poses a threat to us, the region, and the world," Araji said, warning against a "sudden American withdrawal" from Syria's Kurdish-held areas.

Syrian Kurdish forces spearheaded the fight that dislodged IS from the last of its territory in Syria in 2019, and they are still seen by the US -- which maintains a presence in the northeast -- as crucial to preventing a jihadist resurgence.

But since the ouster of Assad, they are facing an uncertain future.

Turkish-backed groups have been attacking their territory since November, despite mediation efforts by the US.

- 'Everyone' withdraw -

Turkey, which is close to Syria's new government, sees Syrian Kurdish forces as an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has led a decades-long insurgency against Ankara.

But the PKK recently declared a ceasefire with Turkey after its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan called on the group to disband.

The development could have significant implications for Iraq, as the PKK maintains rear bases in the north, where Turkish forces have also established numerous bases.

Iraq has urged both parties to advance their peace plan.

"We don't want either the PKK or the Turkish army on our land... Iraq wants everyone to withdraw," he added.

"Turkish forces are (in Iraq) because of the PKK's presence," and "Turkey has said more than once that it has no territorial ambitions in Iraq," Araji said.