Damascus (The Palestine Telegraph Newspaper) 23 January
2026 – Syrian government forces took control of a major prison housing Islamic
State group members after Kurdish-led fighters evacuated the facility amid
ongoing clashes. The development occurred in northeastern Syria, where the
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) withdrew from the site following intense
fighting. No immediate reports emerged of prisoner escapes, though security concerns
persisted in the region.
Syrian regime troops moved into the prison compound on 22
January 2026, hours after Kurdish-led SDF fighters pulled back from their
positions. The facility, located near Hasakah in northeastern Syria, held
hundreds of suspected Islamic State detainees. Syrian state media reported the
takeover as a restoration of government authority in a strategic area
previously under SDF control.
Local sources confirmed the SDF initiated the evacuation
early that morning, citing pressure from simultaneous Turkish-backed offensives
elsewhere in the region. The prison had served as a primary detention centre
for foreign and local Islamic State fighters captured during prior offensives.
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitors noted no mass breakouts during the
transition, though intermittent gunfire echoed around the perimeter.
Details of the Prison Takeover Operation
Regime forces, supported by Russian air cover, advanced
under minimal resistance following the SDF retreat. State television broadcast
footage of soldiers raising the Syrian flag over the main gate by midday. The
compound spanned several hectares, with separate wings for high-value prisoners
and lower-security inmates.
SDF commanders stated the withdrawal formed part of a
tactical repositioning to reinforce frontlines against Turkish proxy groups. A
spokesperson for the Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria explained
the decision prioritised broader territorial defence over isolated holdings.
The move left the facility unstaffed for approximately four hours before regime
units arrived.
United Nations officials expressed concern over the
chain-of-custody for detainees, many of whom faced charges related to Islamic
State atrocities. The prison population included fighters from Europe, the
Middle East, and North Africa, repatriated in small numbers over previous
years. International monitors maintained limited access to the site amid the
fluid security situation.
Background on Kurdish Control and Regional Conflicts
The SDF assumed control of the prison in 2019 during the
final push against Islamic State territorial holdings. Kurdish forces, backed
initially by US coalition troops, captured thousands of suspects in the ensuing
months. The facility became a focal point for global repatriation efforts, with
countries like France, Britain, and Iraq retrieving nationals under strict
security protocols.
Tensions escalated after the US announced partial troop
withdrawals in late 2025, reducing direct support for SDF operations. Turkish
forces, viewing the Kurds as extensions of the outlawed PKK, launched
cross-border incursions into SDF-held areas. These actions strained Kurdish
resources, prompting prioritisation of frontline defences over rear-guard
duties like prison security.
Syrian government forces capitalised on the vacuum,
coordinating with Russia to reclaim ground in Deir ez-Zor and Hasakah
provinces. Previous handovers occurred in Aleppo suburbs, where regime troops
absorbed SDF checkpoints without major incidents. The prison takeover marked
the largest single-site transfer to date.
Statements from Key Parties Involved
Credit: Borna News/Matin Ghasemi/Aksonline ATPImages/Getty Images
A Syrian military official declared the operation complete,
emphasising restored sovereignty over national institutions. The statement
highlighted collaboration with local tribal leaders to maintain order during
the transition. Damascus pledged continued detention of all Islamic State
suspects under judicial oversight.
SDF leadership described the evacuation as orderly, with
non-essential personnel relocated to nearby bases. The group affirmed
commitment to counter-terrorism but stressed the need for international
partnership amid multiple threats. Kurdish representatives urged the regime to
uphold human rights standards for detainees.
US State Department spokespersons monitored developments
closely, reiterating calls for secure handling of foreign fighters. Coalition
partners, including the UK and France, activated repatriation protocols for
their citizens held in the facility. Turkish officials welcomed any weakening
of Kurdish positions without direct comment on the prison event.
Humanitarian and Security Implications
Aid agencies reported no immediate humanitarian crises at
the site, though access roads remained contested. The International Committee
of the Red Cross held pre-existing agreements for detainee welfare visits,
pending security clearances. Concerns lingered over potential radicalisation
within overcrowded cells during the handover period.
Regional analysts noted the event underscored fragmenting
alliances in Syria's eight-year civil war. Islamic State remnants exploited
past prison disturbances, including a 2022 uprising that resulted in over 500
deaths. Current intelligence suggested no coordinated breakout attempts during
this transition.
Local residents near Hasakah described hearing explosions
prior to the SDF pullout, attributed to regime artillery targeting distant
Turkish positions. No civilian casualties linked directly to the prison events
surfaced in initial reports.
Historical Context of Detention Facilities
Syria hosted multiple such sites before the conflict,
repurposed by various factions during hostilities. The Hasakah prison gained
prominence after housing Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi associates following his 2019
death. SDF authorities implemented biometric screening and segregation measures
to mitigate internal threats.
Regime control now integrated the facility into its penal
system, overseen by the Ministry of Justice. Previous transfers of Islamic
State suspects from Kurdish custody yielded mixed compliance with international
standards, per Amnesty International documentation. Ongoing trials in Damascus
courts processed detainees captured in government offensives.
International Reactions and Monitoring Efforts
European Union foreign ministers discussed
the development during a 23 January virtual meeting, stressing repatriation
timelines. Britain confirmed two nationals remained in custody, with extraction
teams on standby. French diplomats coordinated with Damascus for access to 15
citizens.
Russia's Foreign Ministry endorsed the Syrian government's
actions, framing them as anti-terrorist measures. Moscow provided logistical
support, including helicopters for troop insertions. Iran-aligned militias
remained neutral, focused on southern fronts.
United Nations Security Council members scheduled briefings
for late January, with France and the UK proposing resolutions on detainee
accountability. Observers anticipated heightened scrutiny amid stalled peace
talks in Astana.
Ongoing Developments in Northeastern Syria
Credit: AP Photo/ Evan Vucci
Clashes persisted along the Turkish border, where SDF units
repelled advances by Ankara-backed factions. Syrian regime reinforcements
bolstered positions near the prison, deterring follow-on threats. Turkish drone
activity increased overhead, monitoring ground movements.
SDF sources reported recapturing adjacent villages,
stabilising flanks post-evacuation. Islamic State sleeper cells claimed
responsibility for roadside bombings nearby, though unverified. Regime patrols
expanded checkpoints around the facility perimeter.
No further evacuations announced as of press time. International partners pledged technical assistance for prison management upgrades. The situation evolved rapidly in Syria's contested northeast.