In a significant shift in the ongoing conflict in Syria, the Syrian government has taken control of the al-Hawl detention camp, which houses tens of thousands of suspected Islamic State (IS) members and their families. This move follows the withdrawal of Kurdish-led forces from the heavily fortified camp, which has been a major concern for the international community.
The al-Hawl camp, located in northeast Syria, is home to approximately 24,000 people of 42 different nationalities, the majority of whom are family members of suspected IS fighters and alleged members of the group. For years, Kurdish authorities and humanitarian organizations have urged countries to repatriate their citizens from the camp and prosecute them at home, warning that the conditions there were intolerable.
The Syrian government has accused the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of withdrawing from the camp and leaving it unguarded, which allegedly led to the escape of some detainees. This scenario is reminiscent of the events in Shaddadi prison, where the SDF’s withdrawal in the face of advancing forces resulted in the escape of 120 prisoners.
The Syrian Defense Ministry has stated that it is ready to assume responsibility for al-Hawl and other IS detainee camps, and is in contact with the US-led international coalition to defeat IS, which has been involved in guarding the camp. The SDF, however, has denied that it allowed any prisoners to escape from either al-Hawl or Shaddadi.
The transfer of control over al-Hawl comes as part of a broader shift in the balance of power in northeast Syria. Over the past week, government forces have swept into the region, wresting control of vast swathes of territory from the SDF, which had controlled about a third of Syria for the last seven years.
The two sides have reached a four-day ceasefire, which the Syrian government says is meant to give the SDF a grace period to implement a lasting agreement. Under the proposed 14-point peace plan, the SDF would surrender most of its governing authorities to Damascus and integrate into the Syrian military, while leaving Kurdish-majority areas in the northeast to be supervised by local security forces rather than the Syrian military.
The US, a principal backer of the SDF, has made it clear that it wants the Kurdish authority to be brought into the fold of the Syrian state. The US Syria envoy, Tom Barrack, has stated that the deal is an “opportunity” for Kurds in Syria to integrate into the Syrian state, and has urged the SDF to accept Damascus’ terms.
As the situation in northeast Syria continues to evolve, the fate of the al-Hawl camp and its detainees remains a crucial concern for the international community, with the potential for further instability and the resurgence of IS a constant threat.
