ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The US-led global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) said on Wednesday that the circumstances that led to last week’s major attack by ISIS on Ghweran prison in Hasaka, northeast Syria (Rojava) must be thoroughly investigated. ISIS attacked al-Sina'a prison in Ghweran neighborhood last Thursday with explosive-laden vehicles and other weapons. The prison is held by the Kurdish-led and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) which announced complete control of the jail on Wednesday. The Coalition forces supported the SDF in the operation. “The Coalition stands with our SDF partners who have fought with bravery and determination in Hasakah. This is not a problem solely within this city. This is a global problem that requires many nations to come together to develop an enduring long-term solution.” Maj. Gen. John W. Brennan, commander of the Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), said in a statement late Wednesday. "The makeshift prisons throughout Syria are a breeding ground for Daesh’s failed ideology. We must thoroughly investigate the circumstances that allowed this attack to happen," he added. The commander also said that “While there is still much work to be done in Hasakah, we remain committed to advising, assisting, and enabling our partners in Iraq and North East Syria. Daesh remains an existential threat to the region, and it must not be allowed to regenerate.” The prison included about 5,000 ISIS prisoners, and over 5,000 members of the group are held by SDF in other jails. By Wednesday afternoon, SDF media head Farhad Shami declared militants previously detained within the prison defeated, with the force having “entire control of al-Sina'a prison in al-Hasaka and the surrendering of all Daesh terrorists.” According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, fighting in and around the prison since Thursday has killed 181 people, including 124 ISIS jihadists, 50 Kurdish fighters and seven civilians. However, the SDF said in a press conference late Wednesday that it is not clear how many ISIS members have been killed, adding that the exact number will be disclosed later.
