There are still more than 40,000 women and minors in the Al-Holi prison camp in northern Syria, where the jihadist organization ISIS has thousands of fighters who carry out hundreds of attacks each year. In January 2022, Russia massed its forces in Ukraine, sparking speculation about a potential attack. Amidst this, an unnoticed event occurred on January 20, in which a jihadist organization in northern Syria drove a car loaded with explosives into the walls of Hasaka prison to free thousands of ISIS members.
The battle that ensued lasted for ten days and resulted in over 500 casualties. Ultimately, Syrian Kurdish forces gained control of the situation. This uprising in Hasaka prison highlights the ongoing threat posed by ISIS in Syria and Iraq, despite the collapse of their “caliphate” five years ago.
According to the Washington Institute, there are still thousands of ISIS jihadists in prisons in northeastern Syria who continue to carry out terrorist attacks. The Kurdish authorities hold approximately 56,000 people, with 30,000 being children. The largest of the camps is the Al-Holi prison camp, with additional ISIS fighters or their relatives in Roji prison camp and about 27 detention centers.
The conditions in the Al-Holi camp are dire, with shortages of food and clean water, extreme temperatures, and limited access to medicine. A report by Amnesty International revealed incidents of torture, harassment, and abuse within the camp. Despite calls for improvements, repatriation of prisoners remains slow.
Iraq has begun repatriating its citizens from the camp to a relocation center near Mosul. However, the overall population within the camps continues to decrease slowly. Most camp residents are Iraqis and Syrians, facing challenges as they transition back to society after years of camp life.