ISIS control Ghuwayran prison | Ongoing attempts by military forces to restore control of the prison, while death toll rises to 25

Al-Hasakah province: Reliable sources have informed SOHR that violent clashes inside Ghuwayran prison in Al-Hasakah continue between the Internal Security Forces (Asayish), the counter-terrorism forces and the prison guards on one hand, and ISIS members on the other.

 

ISIS prisoners managed to control most parts of the prison, after seizing weapons and ammunition of the prison guards, while the military forces have attempted to restore control of the prison in light of the the most violent attacks by ISIS on populated areas since it was eliminated as a controlling power in March 2019.

 

SOHR sources have documented the death of 18 members of Asayish Forces and the prison guards, amid unconfirmed reports of more casualties.

 

It is worth noting that Ghuwayran prison hosts nearly 3,500 ISIS leading figures and members, and it is the only prison in the world hosting such large number of ISIS prisoners.

 

SOHR sources had confirmed the death of six ISIS fighters and a civilian who were all killed during the violent clashes in the vicinity of the prison in Al-Hasakah.

 

On the other hand, the military forces arrested two out of five ISIS fighters who had escaped from the prison in the riots, amid unknown fate of the three others, whose identities and nationalities remained unknown. Also, it is not known if the escapees were fighters or commanders.  

 

On the other hand, SDF military forces, backed by International Coalition aircraft, continued combing the vicinity of the prison and the nearby neighbourhoods, amid sound of gunfire in the region.

 

It is worth noting that this was the most violent and largest attack on populated areas since elimination of ISIS as a controlling power in March 2019.