Iraqi counter-terrorism launches prison inspection operations

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraqi counter-terrorism forces on Sunday announced that they had launched a major campaign to inspect prisons on the orders of the Iraqi premier Mustafa al-Kadhimi. These measures to secure Iraqi prisons from potential security gaps follow a major prison siege by the Islamic State (ISIS) group in Hasaka, northeast Syria (Rojava).

"After the recent security developments in the Syrian city of Hasaka, in which ISIS elements tried to escape from the 'Sina'a prison' ... units of the counter-terrorism service launched a major campaign to inspect Iraqi prisons in several provinces, which began on the 22nd of January and continued until the 30th," the counter-terrorism forces announced on Sunday, as reported by state media. 

ISIS detainees led an audacious attack on the al-Sina'a prison in Hasaka's Ghweran neighborhood on Friday, January 21st. The facility housed around 5,000 ISIS members at the time of the incursion, and the major escape attempt raised significant concern about the terror group's capabilities, despite their complete lack of territorial control. 

An additional 5,000 other militants are held by the SDF in other jails.

"The intelligence of the [Iraqi] Counter-Terrorism Service participated in this campaign, which obtained important and precise information related to terrorist cells who are trying to create a foothold in our country," continued the statement.

According to data obtained by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the death toll from ISIS's attempted prison break in Hasaka has reached 322 dead. Among them are 246 ISIS members, 79 security forces (Asayish) and prison guards, and seven civilians. SOHR also noted that the fate of many ISIS prisoners remains unknown.

The prison attack in Hasaka is the largest operation conducted by ISIS since the fall of its territorial caliphate in 2019.

ISIS controlled swathes of Iraqi and Syrian land in 2014 but it was declared territorially defeated in 2017 and 2019 respectively. However, the group still poses a threat to both countries through bombings, hit-and-run attacks, kidnappings, and other tactics.

On Saturday, Iraqi security forces arrested four civilians in Nineveh who were forcing citizens to pay money to finance ISIS. 

Iraqi and Syrian security forces often carry out operations against members of the terror group.