The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Backed by International Coalition | Military forces continue their efforts to fully control Ghuwayran prison and eliminate ISIS members in its vicinity

Death toll of the largest offensive by ISIS in nearly three years rises to nearly 125

Al-Hasakah province: Military operations continue in and around Ghuwayran prison in Al-Hasakah city, where violent clashes renewed, in the early hours of Sunday morning, between the Internal Security Forces, Syrian Democratic Forces and “HAT and YAT” special counter-terrorism units operating under the banner of SDF, Asayish and trained by International Coalition on one hand, and ISIS fighters on the other hand, in an ongoing attempt to impose complete control on the prison and put an end to the presence of ISIS members in the vicinity of the prison. These efforts have been aided and backed by the International Coalition.

SOHR sources have documented heavy casualties during these violent clashes, with 16 ISIS members, and five members of military forces have been killed. The death toll is likely to rise further as there are many people who sustained serious injuries, amid reports on other deaths.

Syrian Observatory sources have confirmed that ISIS snipers have been stationed in a new building under construction close to Al-Sinaa prison, which is supposed to be a prison for ISIS members, and it has been built with foreign support for nearly a year.

It is worth noting that parts of the Ghuwayran prison are under the control of military forces, while the rest parts of the prison are under ISIS members and prisoners’ control.

The Syrian Observatory monitored a spike in the death toll of ISIS members, as at least 61 members were killed. The number of deaths is likely to rise further amid reports on other deaths, while the fate of dozens of prisoners remains unknown.

The total death toll since the start of Ghuwayran prison break on Thursday evening has reached 123: 77 ISIS fighters, seven civilians and 39 members of Asayish Forces, prison guards and counter-terrorism forces.

Observatory asserts that the death toll was even higher, and the real number of fatalists was not exactly identified, as the fate of dozens members on both sides is still unknown. In addition, there were many people who sustained serious injuries.

Yesterday, SOHR sources reported that a military convoy of the International Coalition Forces arrived in the vicinity of Ghuwayran prison in Al-Hasakah city, amid flights by Coalition helicopters. The riot in the prison was expected to reach an end in the upcoming hours

On the other hand, the number of arrested ISIS prisoners, who had escaped earlier from the prison, to 136. However, other ISIS prisoners, whose number is unknown, are still free.

SOHR sources confirmed that hundreds of ISIS prisoners managed to escape on Thursday evening and Friday dawn before some were arrested, while the fate of the others remained unknown.

SOHR activists reported also that ISIS broadcasted videos showing their fighters holding tens of guards of Ghuwayran prison hostages in Al-Hasakah.

It is also 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.