The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

SOHR: Clashes continue around IS prison in NE Syria

Clashes continued on Wednesday between Islamic State (IS) militants and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) around a prison housing a large number of IS inmates in the northeastern province of Hasakah, a war monitor said.

However, the IS riot has largely failed, as the militant group had lost 124 fighters in six days of clashes and strikes in and around the prison, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

On Jan. 20, IS inmates inside the Sina’a prison, which is controlled by the U.S.-backed SDF, incited a riot in coordination with militants from outside, who detonated the prison’s gates with two booby-trapped vehicles and succeeded in freeing some prisoners.

The prison break is the largest since the IS was largely defeated in populated areas in Syria in March 2019, said the war monitor.

The incident triggered clashes between the IS and the SDF, and U.S. airstrikes on the areas where the IS fugitives could have sought shelter.

The violence forced over 3,500 civilians to flee Kurdish-controlled areas in Hasakah to government-controlled areas in the same province.

SDF forces have so far failed to contain the situation, and negotiations with the IS inmates to end their riot are still going on.

Hasakah is largely controlled by the SDF, but certain areas in the province, particularly in the city of Qamishli, are under the control of the Syrian government.

 

 

Source: XINHUANET