(DDM) – Syria has reported what officials describe as a “mass escape” from the notorious al-Hol detention camp, a facility long known for housing families linked to the extremist group Islamic State.
State media said the incident occurred last month following the withdrawal of Kurdish-led security forces from the camp.
Authorities now fear that thousands of detainees may have fled during the chaos, raising fresh security concerns in the volatile northeastern region.
Al-Hol camp, located in Syria’s Hasakah province, has for years housed tens of thousands of women and children associated with ISIS fighters after the group’s territorial defeat in 2019.
International observers have repeatedly described conditions inside the camp as dire, citing overcrowding, radicalization risks, and limited oversight.
Nureddin Baba, spokesperson for Syria’s Interior Ministry, told Syrian television that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) withdrew from the camp without coordinating with the Syrian government or the US-led coalition fighting ISIS.
He argued that the uncoordinated pullout created a dangerous security vacuum that enabled detainees to escape.
The SDF has played a central role in detaining ISIS fighters and their relatives since the collapse of the group’s so-called caliphate. Backed by the United States, the Kurdish-led alliance has managed detention centers and camps holding thousands of suspected militants and family members.
However, the SDF swiftly rejected the Interior Ministry’s account, calling the allegations misleading. In a statement, the group accused factions affiliated with Damascus of entering al-Hol and facilitating the removal of ISIS-linked families.
The SDF claimed the Syrian government sought to deflect responsibility by shifting blame onto Kurdish forces.
The dispute underscores ongoing tensions between the Syrian government and Kurdish authorities in the northeast, where governance and security responsibilities often overlap or clash.
While Damascus insists on sovereign control over all Syrian territory, Kurdish-led administrations have operated semi-autonomously with Western backing.
Security analysts warn that any large-scale escape from al-Hol could pose regional and international risks. The camp houses not only Syrian nationals but also foreign families whose home countries have been reluctant to repatriate them. Many Western governments have faced political backlash over the prospect of bringing back individuals linked to ISIS.
Al-Hol has witnessed violence, assassinations, and escape attempts in the past, prompting repeated calls from humanitarian organizations for a long-term solution. Critics argue that indefinite detention without clear legal processes fuels instability and leaves room for extremist networks to regroup.
Neither Syrian authorities nor the SDF have released verified figures confirming how many detainees may have fled. The US-led coalition has not yet issued a detailed public response to the conflicting claims.
The reported escape comes at a time when ISIS remnants continue to stage sporadic attacks in Syria and Iraq, exploiting governance gaps and regional rivalries.
As investigations continue, the incident raises urgent questions about camp security, inter-faction coordination, and the fragile balance of power in northeastern Syria.
