Damascus, Syria – The Syrian Army Operations Command announced that Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) elements withdrew from guarding al-Hol camp and released the detainees held there.
It confirmed that Syrian forces, in cooperation with internal security forces,
will enter the camp to secure it and establish control over the security situation.
The Command stated that the Syrian Army is preparing to move toward the camp in light of the rapidly evolving situation in eastern Syria.
This comes amid warnings of potential security repercussions related to the presence of ISIS members and their families within the camp.
SDF justifies withdrawal
For its part, the SDF confirmed in an official statement that its withdrawal from the camp was a result of what it described as “international indifference” towards the ISIS issue.
The withdrawal also stemmed from the international community’s failure to shoulder its responsibilities regarding this complex matter.
The statement added that its forces were compelled to redeploy around cities in northern Syria due to escalating security and military threats.
It further stated that protecting the areas under its control had become its priority in light of the current tensions.
Fears of a resurgence of ISIS activity
Al-Hol camp houses thousands of women and children related to ISIS members.
It is considered one of the most sensitive sites in Syria, both in terms of security and humanitarian concerns.
International reports have repeatedly warned of the risk of the camp becoming a breeding ground for the extremist group to regroup.
International organizations consider the camp a “ticking time bomb” due to the complex security and humanitarian conditions within it.
This is compounded by the continued presence of militants and individuals suspected of having ties to the organization.
Damascus and SDF negotiations collapse
Simultaneously, Kurdish sources revealed a complete collapse of negotiations between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
This came amid sharp disagreements regarding the future of Hasakah province and the security and military administration in the region.
Syrian sources reported that SDF commander Mazloum Abdi rejected government proposals concerning participation in official institutions.
Damascus also insisted on the unity of Syrian territory and rejected
any arrangements that would grant the SDF independent administration of Hasakah.
The sources confirmed that the Syrian government threatened to resolve the issue militarily if negotiations continued to falter.
This opens the door to a new phase of escalation in northeastern Syria.
