Who's Watching the IS Detainees in Syria?

In Syria, a growing crisis is unfolding. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have lost control of key areas, jeopardizing the security of prisons and camps holding over 10,000 Islamic State (IS) members and their families.

Prisons Under Threat

In Hasakah province, two major prisons, Ghwayran and Panorama, hold thousands of IS fighters. Ghwayran, once a school, now houses around 4,000 inmates. Other facilities detain young boys, some born in Syria to IS-affiliated parents.

• U.S.-led coalition troops guard the outside.
• Kurdish forces manage the inside.

Some prisons have already shifted hands. Shaddadi prison, for instance, was seized by the Syrian government. The SDF claims inmates escaped as Syrian troops advanced, while the government alleges the SDF abandoned the facility, releasing around 200 IS members—most of whom were later recaptured. A U.S. official stated these escapees were low-level IS members.

Detention Camps in Chaos

Beyond prisons, detention camps like al-Hol and Roj hold thousands.

• Al-Hol houses around 44,000 people, mostly women and children from Syria, Iraq, and some Western nations.
• Roj camp includes Westerners, such as Shamima Begum, a British woman who joined IS.

Kurdish forces withdrew from al-Hol as government troops moved in. The status of Roj camp remains uncertain.

Uncertain Future

The shifting control and security risks raise critical questions:

• Who is responsible for these detainees?
• What will happen to them?

With unstable security, the fate of these prisoners and their families remains a pressing concern.