Syria’s transitional security forces have announced their readiness to take full control of the Al-Hol special camp and all detention facilities across the country’s northeast. These sites, which house family members of former Islamic State (IS, banned in Russia) militants and detained fighters, were previously secured by Kurdish-led coalitions.
"We affirm our readiness to assume control of the Al-Hol camp and all IS prisons throughout the region," the Syrian Ministry of Defense stated. The announcement follows a declaration by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that they have withdrawn their units from the Al-Hol facility.
The Al-Hol camp was established in 2019 following the fall of the final Islamic State stronghold in Al-Baghuz, situated on the eastern bank of the Euphrates. Since then, the site has served as a primary holding center for the families of former militants. At its peak in 2019, the camp’s population reached approximately 73,000 people. By 2025, estimates suggested that roughly 50,000 residents remained, the majority of whom are Iraqi nationals.
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Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense
Based on materials from TASS