Kurdish Forces Pull Out of IS Detention Camp in Northeast Syria Amid US Shift in Support
In a move that marks a significant escalation, Kurdish-led forces have withdrawn from the al-Hawl detention camp in northeast Syria, housing tens of thousands of Islamic State (IS) linked detainees. The withdrawal comes as the US declared it no longer supports the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which had been the backbone of the fight against IS.
The decision to leave al-Hawl camp has raised concerns among neighboring states and the international community, with warnings that a jailbreak could lead to chaos. The Syrian government has accused the SDF of abandoning its responsibilities, allowing detainees to escape.
Al-Hawl camp, located in the Hasakeh province, is home to an estimated 24,000 people from Syria, Iraq, and other countries, including 2,400 female detainees such as Shamima Begum. The camp's fate has been a point of contention between the SDF and the Syrian government.
As the Syrian government continues its advance in northeast Syria, Kurdish officials have called for resistance against the regime's push into their territory. The situation is becoming increasingly dire, with clashes reported between the two sides and shelling in areas such as Kobani and Hasakeh.
The US shift in support has been attributed to the change in leadership, with President Bashar al-Assad now having a central government that has joined forces against IS. However, this new stance seems to have led to a breakdown in communication, with Kurdish officials accusing Damascus of attempting to massacre them.
The camp's withdrawal highlights the precarious nature of the situation on the ground and raises concerns about the safety of detainees and the long-term stability of the region.
In a move that marks a significant escalation, Kurdish-led forces have withdrawn from the al-Hawl detention camp in northeast Syria, housing tens of thousands of Islamic State (IS) linked detainees. The withdrawal comes as the US declared it no longer supports the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which had been the backbone of the fight against IS.
The decision to leave al-Hawl camp has raised concerns among neighboring states and the international community, with warnings that a jailbreak could lead to chaos. The Syrian government has accused the SDF of abandoning its responsibilities, allowing detainees to escape.
Al-Hawl camp, located in the Hasakeh province, is home to an estimated 24,000 people from Syria, Iraq, and other countries, including 2,400 female detainees such as Shamima Begum. The camp's fate has been a point of contention between the SDF and the Syrian government.
As the Syrian government continues its advance in northeast Syria, Kurdish officials have called for resistance against the regime's push into their territory. The situation is becoming increasingly dire, with clashes reported between the two sides and shelling in areas such as Kobani and Hasakeh.
The US shift in support has been attributed to the change in leadership, with President Bashar al-Assad now having a central government that has joined forces against IS. However, this new stance seems to have led to a breakdown in communication, with Kurdish officials accusing Damascus of attempting to massacre them.
The camp's withdrawal highlights the precarious nature of the situation on the ground and raises concerns about the safety of detainees and the long-term stability of the region.
so the US is basically saying "we're outta here" on the SDF, and now the Kurds are all like "oh no, we're on our own"... what a shock 
. It's not like they've been relying on the US for support or anything... anyway, I guess it's not surprising that the camp is getting emptied out, considering the Syrian government has been trying to take control of the area for ages 
. And now we're supposed to believe that the SDF is abandoning its responsibilities? Come on 
, those guys have been holding together with a shoestring budget and minimal resources... it's impressive they lasted as long as they did 
.
. I mean, tens of thousands of people just waltzing out into a super volatile area? It's like a recipe for disaster 
. And with the Syrian government accusing them of abandoning their responsibilities... it's like they're already preparing for the worst 
. The US shifting its support to Assad's side is gonna make things even more complicated 
. I just hope everyone involved can find a way to work out this mess without anyone getting hurt 
. What if these detainees end up being used as human shields or something? It's like we're playing a bad game of real-life geopolitics 
.
And then you've got the shelling and clashes with the regime... it's just chaos 
. I wish someone could just step in and help these people out, 'cause right now, they're on their own 
. 24,000 people are stuck in this camp with no one to protect them, and you know what will happen next - chaos 
. The US just pulled the rug from under their feet, and now they're left to deal with the consequences themselves 
. It's a miracle nobody's been killed yet, but mark my words, something bad is going to happen soon 
.
like, didn't they just finish a 8-year war against those dudes? now they're just gonna leave them in the wild? sounds like a recipe for disaster to me... Syria is already a mess, adding more variables to the mix isn't gonna help. and what about all these female detainees like Shamima Begum? are they just gonna be left behind too? 
2k+ detainees are stuck in there with no one to protect them, it's horrific. I'm so worried about Shamima Begum and all those others 
. Detainees are stuck in this camp without anyone to help them 
. US stopped supporting SDF 
. Al-Hawl camp is a total mess 
.
. They're stuck in this limbo without any idea what's happening around them 
.
.
, especially with all these women and kids stuck there. what's going to happen to them now? 
. but at the same time, a jailbreak could be disastrous, with people potentially escaping and causing chaos in the region 
i'm trying to stay informed, but it feels like everything is happening so fast 
.
. I mean, can you blame them for wanting to defend themselves? It's not like they're getting any help from anyone else 
.
but now the whole situation has turned into a mess 
and nobody knows what's gonna happen next 
, so they need protection ASAP 
️. Can't stress enough how dire the situation is 
and now the SDF & Syrian gov are at each other's throats 
gotta hope someone steps up to take care of those detainees ASAP 
. The US is supposed to be backing the SDF, but they can't even keep their promises 
. I mean, who needs accountability when you've got diplomacy and a whole lot of uncertainty