Syria: Mass Escapes Confirmed at Al-Hol Camp

The Syrian Interior Ministry has confirmed mass escapes of family members of jihadists from the Al-Hol camp, following the withdrawal of Kurdish forces in late January.

A ministry spokesperson stated that their forces discovered mass escapes due to the camp being opened in an unorganized manner. The camp was guarded by the Syrian Democratic Forces, who withdrew on January 20 under pressure from Damascus. Syrian forces took control a few hours later.

Damascus blames the Syrian Democratic Forces, who withdrew without coordination or warning. A state of chaos prevailed after the Kurdish forces withdrew, and 138 openings were found in the 17-kilometer-long wall of the camp. Thousands of women and children escaped.

The Al-Hol camp housed approximately 23,500 people, mainly Syrians and Iraqis, while approximately 6,500 foreigners of 44 nationalities lived in the Annex, the high-security section. Those who remained were transferred to another camp in northern Syria.

The American military has completed the transfer of over 5,700 detained jihadists from Syria to Iraq.