Intelligence sharing remains key to fight against IS
The Islamic State is continuing to carry out guerrilla attacks; developing and maintaining a comprehensive intelligence picture of the group is seen as an important weapon to keep its militants at bay.
![1205507199 US Army Colonel Myles Caggins (L), official military spokesperson for international military intervention against the Islamic State (IS), and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) media spokesman Mustafa Bali (R), visit a military base in Rumaylan (Rmeilan) in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province on March 6, 2020. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP) (Photo by DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2020/04/GettyImages-1205507199.jpg/GettyImages-1205507199.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=qdLUUsoH)
In late March, the Telegraph reported that four Islamic State (IS) militants escaped from the Ghweran prison in the northeastern Syrian city of Hasakah but were quickly recaptured. The Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which played such a critical role in destroying IS' so-called caliphate, are in charge of the prison. The US military was reported to have provided aerial reconnaissance assistance to support the SDF’s recapture of the IS prisoners. Other news stories said up to 12 prisoners escaped.
The SDF continues to be responsible for the security of the prisons in northern Syria, where roughly 11,000-12,000 captured IS fighters are held.