Kurdish militants from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) completely withdrew from the Haul camp in northeastern Syria on Tuesday. Thousands of relatives of members of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group are being held in the internment camp. The Syrian army, leading an offensive against the Kurds, accused the SDF of abandoning the camp and leaving it unprotected. TASR writes about it according to AFP.
- Kurdish SDF forces withdrew from Haul camp.
- There are thousands of relatives of members of the Islamic State in the camp.
- The withdrawal may lead to the escape of IS prisoners.
- The situation increases the tension and security risk in the area.
Among others, the wives and children of IS members are in the camp
Before the offensive of the Syrian army, there were several camps and prisons in the territory under the control of the SDF, where after the defeat of the IS, the wives and children of the members of the IS were placed, as well as other people with proven, but also presumed, ties to the terrorists. Haul is the largest of these facilities and houses 24,000 people. Kurdish militias supported by the United States contributed significantly to the almost complete defeat of IS in the territory of Syria and Iraq seven years ago.
“Our forces have been forced to withdraw from the Haul camp and move closer to cities in northern Syria that are exposed to increasing risks and threats,” the SDF said in a statement. The Kurdish-led forces accused the international community of “indifference” to the issue of imprisoned IS members, saying it had “failed to take up its responsibility in dealing with this serious matter”.
According to the SDF army, she left the camp on purpose
The SDF withdrew from around Haul after the Syrian army advanced in Hasaka province, a Kurdish stronghold in Syria. Syrian forces had previously taken control of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zour provinces, which were partly under Kurdish control.
The SDF accused the military of deliberately abandoning the camp and said it would work with local forces in the area to secure it. According to its statement, the Ministry of Defense is ready to take responsibility for Camp Haul and all prisoners.
The director of the camp told AFP in December that more than 24,000 people live there – approximately 15,000 Syrians, 3,500 Iraqis and 6,200 other foreigners.
An opportunity to escape
The Kurds have repeatedly called for foreign governments to repatriate their citizens from their facilities in Syria. However, only a small number of detainees were repatriated due to security concerns.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the chaos caused by the fighting between the Kurds and the army is an opportunity for many imprisoned IS members and sympathizers to escape. The SDF spokesman announced on Monday that about 1,500 IS members escaped from a prison in the city of Shaddadi in northeastern Syria. Fighting is also taking place in the prison in the city of Raqqa, where Kurdish forces are reportedly surrounded.
