The annex of northeastern Syria’s notorious al-Hol detention camp, which previously housed approximately 6,200 foreign nationals with alleged connections to the Islamic State group, now stands virtually empty following a significant transfer of authority from Kurdish-led forces to the Syrian government. Multiple diplomatic sources and local NGO workers confirmed to Middle East Eye that the facility has been completely vacated, though the circumstances surrounding the operation remain shrouded in mystery.
The evacuation, reportedly conducted on Wednesday night according to an anonymous regional security analyst, has sparked conflicting accounts regarding the detainees’ whereabouts and transfer methods. While some sources indicate the Syrian government officially relocated the women and children, others suggest possible smuggling operations or escapes facilitated by security gaps during the transition period.
Dr. Anne Speckhard of the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism confirmed the complete departure of all 6,279 foreign detainees from Camp al-Hol. She noted that Bosnian women previously held there have been transferred by the Syrian army to Idlib province, where they now reportedly fear government arrest and remain confined to their residences. Notably, detainees in al-Roj camp, which holds numerous western citizens, are believed to remain under Kurdish control.
This development follows the January 30 agreement between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to integrate Kurdish-run northeast Syria into the central state apparatus, including administration of prison camps. The Norwegian Refugee Council reports that al-Hol previously contained 26,500 individuals from 42 countries, including 14,000 Syrians and 4,000 Iraqis, with children comprising approximately 60% of the population.
The transition of authority has created instability, leading to reported prison breaks and abuse. Beirut-based news outlet Al Modon recently documented smuggling operations with suspected links to former foreign fighters exploiting security vulnerabilities to extract women and children from al-Hol, transporting them through complex routes to Idlib. Syrian security forces have subsequently declared the area around al-Hol a security zone and raised alerts in Idlib to track smuggling networks.
Syrian officials have stated that Islamic State detainees will undergo judicial processing, with serious offenders facing prosecution while others receive rehabilitation and potential resettlement or repatriation. British legal organization Reprieve has urged the UK government to expedite repatriation of citizens, warning of escalating dangers for families remaining in detention camps.