SDF withdraws forces from notorious al-Hol camp in Hasaka

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Tuesday announced they have withdrawn from the notorious al-Hol camp in Hasaka, which houses families and affiliates of Islamic State (ISIS) members, following reports they were engaging in "fierce clashes" with Damascus-affiliated armed groups in its vicinity.

In a statement on X, the SDF announced that "due to the international indifference toward the issue of the ISIS terrorist organization and the failure of the international community to assume its responsibilities in addressing this serious matter, our forces were compelled to withdraw from Al-Hol Camp."

The Kurdish-led forces will "redeploy in the vicinity of cities in northern Syria that are facing increasing risks and threats," the statement added.

In a previous statement published less than half an hour earlier, the SDF had reported that "violent clashes are currently taking place between our forces and Damascus-affiliated factions in the vicinity of al-Hol camp, which houses thousands of families of the terrorist ISIS organization."

Al-Hol camp, located southeast of Hasaka in northeastern Syria (Rojava) and managed by the SDF and affiliated Internal Security Forces (Asayish), hosts tens of thousands of people, including the spouses and children of former ISIS militants.

The camp has long been notorious for dire living conditions and the presence of radicalized individuals, earning a reputation as a potential incubator for extremism. Iraqis and Syrians constitute the majority of its residents, though thousands of people from other countries who joined ISIS or lived under its rule also remain in the camp.

For its part, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) cited on Tuesday the Syrian Arab Army's Operations Command as claiming that "the SDF has abandoned guarding al-Hol Camp and released those who were being held inside it."

The Command added that "the Syrian Arab Army, in cooperation with [Damascus's] Internal Security Forces, will enter the area and secure it," reportedly affirming "commitment to protecting our Kurdish people and safeguarding their security."

Shortly afterward, the Syrian defense ministry declared its “complete readiness to take control of al-Hol camp and ISIS prisons” in areas held by the SDF. It also urged the Kurdish-led forces to uphold the 14-point agreement reached on January 18, adding that “our forces will not enter Kurdish towns and villages.”

The development comes amid continued military escalation by the Syrian army and affiliated armed groups against Kurdish forces in Rojava. It also follows an announcement by the SDF on Monday that it had lost control of al-Shaddadi prison to armed groups in Hasaka province, noting that the facility holds “thousands of ISIS militants.”

SDF spokesperson Farhad Shami told Rudaw early Tuesday that around "1,500 ISIS militants - including both foreign and Syrian nationals - have been released" by Damascus-affiliated armed groups from al-Shaddadi prison, in southern Hasaka as well.

Earlier on Tuesday, an SDF source speaking to Rudaw on condition of anonymity said that clashes with Damascus-affiliated forces had intensified for the second consecutive day around another facility which holds around 2,000 ISIS detainees - the al-Aqtan prison in Raqqa.

"The passage of food and water to the prison has now been blocked," the source said. "The prison is under attack, and the SDF is resisting fiercely, not allowing it to fall into the hands of the Syrian Arab Army and allied armed groups."

The escalation in Rojava occurred less than 24 hours after Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced that he had signed a 14-point agreement with SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi to “immediately” halt violence in the Kurdish-led enclave and integrate areas administered by the SDF into state institutions.

Under the accord, Damascus is set to assume responsibility for ISIS detainees and their families currently held by the SDF.

In a late-night video message on Sunday, Abdi said the SDF remains determined to protect the “achievements” of Rojava despite a “war” being imposed on his forces.

The SDF chief had also traveled to the Syrian capital on Monday to meet Sharaa for talks. However, a senior official from the Kurdish-led administration in Rojava told Rudaw that the meeting was not positive, accusing the transitional government of seeking to dismantle Kurdish self-rule and opposing Kurdish rights.

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Last updated at 5:10 pm.