Syria
An Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) soldier during an anti-ISIS operation in al-Hol camp. Photo: SDF
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdish forces in northeast Syria (Rojava) on Friday announced the second phase of an operation against the anti-Islamic State (ISIS) in a camp housing thousands of the terror group’s suspected family members and sympathizers.
“On the morning of the third day, [Friday] the forces began inspections in al-Hol city and its camp, initially focusing on the ‘Migrants’ section within the camp. They also worked on updating the records of families of ISIS members in the camp, and the operation is ongoing,” the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stated.
This is a continuation of “Operation Enduring Security” launched on Wednesday by the SDF, internal security forces (Asayish), and Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) in and around the notorious al-Hol camp in response to intensified ISIS attacks in the area.
The combined Kurdish forces “concluded the first phase of the operation by clearing rural and desert areas and are now moving to inspect al-Hol camp as the second phase of the mission,” according to the SDF statement.
The sprawling al-Hol camp located in Hasaka province houses thousands of suspected ISIS family members and supporters. It has been branded a breeding ground for terrorism. Authorities have described the sprawling facility as a “ticking time bomb.”
In the first days of the operation, a total of 47 suspected ISIS suspects were arrested. The SDF also said they “seized a cache of weapons, ammunition, and some military logistical supplies and discovered two hideouts under preparation for storing weapons.”
Kurdish authorities in northeast Syria have repeatedly called on the international community to repatriate their nationals from al-Hol, but most countries have been hesitant to bring back their citizens due to security concerns.
The SDF, which controls northeast Syria, fought the lion’s share of the battle against ISIS and arrested thousands of the group’s fighters along with their wives and children when they crushed ISIS territorially and took the group’s last stronghold in Syria in 2019.
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