Syrian Government Forces Take Control of Al-Hol Camp Amid SDF Withdrawal
Syrian government forces have taken control of the Al-Hol camp following a 4-day ceasefire and SDF withdrawal. Discover the implications for ISIL detainee management and US policy.
The guards have changed, but the barbed wire remains. On January 21, 2026, Syrian government forces entered the vast Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria. This follows the strategic withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), marking a significant shift in the region's security landscape.
Syrian Government Forces Enter Al-Hol Camp Following Ceasefire
The transfer of the camp, located in the Hasakeh province, appears to be going smoothly under a four-day ceasefire. According to Al Jazeera, armored vehicles carrying troops moved into the facility on Wednesday, ending two weeks of intense fighting between the national army and the Kurdish-led SDF.
Al-Hol currently houses approximately 24,000 people linked to ISIL. The population includes 14,500 Syrians, 3,000 Iraqis, and around 6,500 foreigners held in a high-security annex. As the SDF retreats, the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa is stepping in to take over security responsibilities formerly held by the US-backed Kurdish forces.
A New Era for Regional Security
The US envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, stated that the SDF's role as the primary anti-ISIL force has "largely expired." This signals a pivot in Washington's policy, recognizing the Damascus government as the new partner in managing the remnants of the caliphate after the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.
However, the transition isn't without controversy. The Syrian Interior Ministry reported that 120 ISIL members escaped from the Shaddadi prison recently. Damascus accused the SDF of releasing them, while Kurdish officials claimed they lost control during a government assault. AP reported that many of those who fled have since been recaptured by government troops.
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