Clashes at northeastern Syrian prisons after S.D.F. hands control to government

Clashes erupted on Monday around two prisons in northeastern Syria holding members of the Islamic State, Kurdish officials said, a day after the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces agreed to hand control of prisons and other security infrastructure to the Syrian government. The S.D.F.’s agreement, which ended weeks of deadly fighting, included merging into the national military and handing over prisons holding about 8,000 Islamic State detainees.

Syrian state media accused the S.D.F. of releasing detainees from al-Shaddadi prison in Hasakah province and of exploiting the security threat for political gain; Syrian officials said they had taken control of al-Shaddadi by evening and were combing the area to rearrest released prisoners, though it was not immediately clear how many had been freed.

The S.D.F. accused armed groups “affiliated” with those in power in Damascus of attacking al-Shaddadi early Monday and said armed groups also attacked al-Aqtan prison in Raqqa. The S.D.F. said at least nine of its fighters were killed and 20 others injured in the clashes. The incidents underscored the fragility of the cease-fire reached the previous day and left key questions unresolved: the number of escaped detainees and the identity of the attackers remained unclear.

Key Topics

World, Syrian Democratic Forces, Syrian Government, Al-shaddadi Prison, Al-aqtan Prison, Al Hol Camp