US EditionSyrian government takes control of camp housing thousands linked to the Islamic State group
The Syrian government took control of Al-Hol camp housing about 24,000 people linked to ISIS after the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces withdrew, amid escalating regional security concerns.
- On January 21, 2026, Syrian government forces entered Al-Hol camp in Hasakeh province to assume control after the Syrian Democratic Forces withdrew the day before, with armored convoys guarding the entrance.
- A late May 2025 joint mechanism and international talks paved the way for the handover, as Tom Barrack, U.S. envoy to Syria, said the SDF's role `has largely expired`.
- The camp now holds some 24,000 people, primarily women and children linked to the Islamic State group, including about 15,000 Syrians, about 6,300 foreign nationals from 42 nationalities, and 6,500 in a secured section.
- Late Tuesday's four-day truce left northeast Syria relatively calm on Wednesday, while the Syrian government said it was ready to assume responsibility for Al-Hol and IS prisoners after SDF withdrawal and reported detainee releases.
- Amid longstanding humanitarian concerns, the takeover places Damascus at the center of a major aid and security challenge as the camp’s history includes a June 25, 2025 bombing that killed 25.
133 Articles
133 Articles
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'Damascus is now both willing and positioned to take over security responsibilities, including control of ISIS detention facilities and camps,' says Tammy Bruce - Anadolu Ajansı
What does the takeover of several ISIS camps by Syrian government troops mean for Germany? Security authorities are concerned about outbreaks.
For several days, the Syrian army led from Damascus has been gaining ground towards the north of the country, in areas previously controlled by Kurdish forces, including that of al-Hol camp, an open-air prison where tens of thousands of people are being held accused of being a member of the jihadist Islamic State group. Have any detainees been able to flee?
The Syrian Islamist regime has captured large areas of northeastern Syria from the Kurds. The al-Hol camp has also come under the control of the Islamist regime.
What Does It Mean for ISIS Prisons and Camps to Be Transferred to Syrian Government Custody?
The transfer of authority over detention centers holding members of the so-called Islamic State, along with associated security camps, from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to the Syrian government marks a profound shift in the management of one of Syria’s most sensitive and complex security files. This move seeks to end the long-standing duality and fragmented legitimacy that has surrounded this dossier, eliminating the risks these facilities…
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