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Kurdish Forces Reject Transfer of IS Jails to New Islamist Rulers in Syria

Prison guards secure the al-Sina'a prison in Hasakah, Syria, January 18, 2025. REUTERS/Orhan Qereman/File Photo

Minority Watch, Al Hasakah: Kurdish forces overseeing Islamic State (IS) prisoners in northern Syria have expressed opposition to handing control of a key detention facility to the newly established Islamist rulers in Damascus.

This stance comes as they prepare for potential attacks by the ultra-hardline group, which is attempting to reassert itself in the region, according to Reuters.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed force controlling around a quarter of Syria, has reported that IS has launched two attempted attacks on prisons since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8. These efforts reflect the group’s attempt to capitalize on the ongoing instability.

At a prison in Hasakah, home to roughly 4,500 IS fighters—including many foreign nationals—a Kurdish officer predicted more attempts from ISIS. “When the Syrian regime fell… ISIS seized a lot of weapons, and they will organize themselves again to attack prisons,” said the officer, whose identity was concealed by a ski mask.

Reuters was granted rare access to the heavily fortified prison on Saturday, where it spoke with three detainees—a Briton, a Russian, and a German citizen originally from Tunisia.

For over a decade, the SDF has been at the forefront of U.S.-led efforts to counter IS in Syria, helping to drive the jihadists from their Raqqa stronghold in 2017 and their final foothold in Baghouz in 2019.

The situation surrounding the jails has garnered attention since Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate, took control of areas formerly governed by Assad. The new government formed by HTS aims to restore central authority in Syria, which has led to tensions regarding the fate of IS prisoners.

International powers remain divided over who should control these prisons. Turkey, viewing Syria’s Kurdish factions as a national security threat, advocates for handing them over to the new Islamist government, even offering assistance.

Meanwhile, the outgoing U.S. administration expressed support for the SDF’s continued management of these facilities. Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized on January 8 that preventing an IS resurgence hinges on allowing the SDF to maintain its role in securing foreign terrorist fighters.

The Kurdish officer firmly rejected the idea of transferring control to the new Syrian administration: “Sharing it with the new government will not be acceptable. Protecting this prison is the responsibility of the coalition and the SDF only,” he stated.

The SDF has warned that jihadist fighters are seeking to exploit security lapses across Syria, with the Kurdish officer citing images of IS flags among fighters who seized Damascus. HTS, which has historically clashed with IS, has been involved in countering an attempted IS attack on a Shiite shrine near Damascus on January 11.

The SDF and the new administration are also at odds over the integration of the Kurdish-led force into Syria’s new security apparatus. The SDF has made it clear it has no intention of dissolving, contrary to the wishes of the new Syrian defense ministry.

The Damascus interior ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Regret from Detainees

The SDF currently holds around 10,000 IS fighters. In addition to this, the force oversees the al-Hol detention camp, which houses tens of thousands of individuals, many of whom are family members of suspected IS militants.

One detainee, who traveled to Syria from Britain in 2014 to join IS, shared his reflections on his journey. “We’re six years in prison now and we don’t know anything about our situation, about our wives and about our children and about our mothers,” he said, speaking through a small, barred window.

Conditions in the prison are harsh, with detainees packed into cells with little personal space. Another detainee, a German citizen originally from Tunisia, expressed regret, stating, “Everyone regrets it, everyone knows they committed a big mistake and people honestly want to go back to their homes and families.”

A Russian detainee also expressed regret, hoping that Russian President Vladimir Putin would forgive him.

However, the Kurdish officer noted that such statements should be taken cautiously. He explained that many of the detainees were involved in violent battles during the IS-held last stand at Baghouz and had not surrendered easily. “We’ve never noticed that they’ve abandoned their ideas,” he remarked, pointing to ongoing militant behavior among the detainees, including appointing “emirs,” plotting escapes, and receiving religious lessons.

The Kurdish-led administration has long urged foreign governments to repatriate their nationals. In 2023, it announced plans to begin prosecuting these individuals. However, many countries have hesitated, citing security concerns.

* This article was originally reported by Reuters. Please click this SOURCE LINK that deserves the credit.

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