Skip to main content

Intel: US-led coalition reaffirms support for prisons holding IS fighters in northeast Syria

The coalition commander called the Syrian Kurdish fighters' achievements against the Islamic State "astounding" and reaffirmed international support.
A fighter from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) guards a gate as Syrian women wait inside the Kurdish-run al-Hol camp.

The American commander of the US-led military coalition to defeat the Islamic State (IS) reaffirmed international support for Syria’s Kurdish-led fighters on Sunday, announcing new aid to help secure prisons holding IS detainees.

Speaking at a conference in the Syrian city of Hasakah, Lt. Gen. Paul Calvert highlighted additional assistance to upgrade detention centers run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Shadadi and Suwwar.

Calvert also noted recent international support for the People's Protection Units (YPG) annex at the notorious al-Hol internment camp, which houses tens of thousands of family members of IS fighters in conditions UN-appointed rights experts have described as “squalid.”

Included in the assistance is some $20 million from the UK government to upgrade the main prison holding IS fighters near Hasakah, Calvert said, adding the coalition expects “that project will be completed in September.”

The Hasakah prison was the scene of at least two riots by IS fighters last year. In one of the incidents, detainees escaped the main holding cell but did not break out of the compound itself.

Earlier this year, the YPG, which forms the backbone of the SDF, and Asayish security forces led a series of raids into al-Hol camp to capture IS operatives suspected of ordering a series of murders and kidnappings inside the camp.

Calvert said Sunday those raids helped the coalition gather valuable intelligence on IS sleeper cells both inside and outside of al-Hol camp.

“[IS] has been militarily defeated. Its so-called caliphate no longer exists,” he said, acknowledging more still needs to be done.

“Our detention capability advisory team is working to strengthen both the capability and the capacity of the guard forces to ensure [IS] detainees are kept safely in these facilities until repatriated or justice is served,” Calvert said.

The conference was also attended by SDF commander Mazlum Kobane and other senior Kurdish officials.

Why it matters: The commander’s assurances come as the Biden administration is reviewing its Syria policy. Last month, US President Joe Biden said the United States will end its combat mission in Iraq by Dec. 31, 2021.

In the meantime, US officials say the roughly 900 American troops in Syria aren’t leaving anytime soon.

During a June meeting of coalition officials in Rome, Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the US stance that foreign governments must repatriate their citizens from IS camps and prisons for criminal trials in their home countries.

The head of all US forces in the Middle East, Gen. Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie, has taken every opportunity to warn of the danger of leaving IS fighters and their families to languish indefinitely in underserved Syrian prisons.

“It’s not a military problem,” McKenzie said in April. “But it will manifest itself in five to 10 years as a military problem unless we solve it now, because the children are going to grow up radicalized and we’re going to see them on the battlefields fighting us.”

What’s next: Calvert is preparing to hand off his command of the coalition to US Army Maj. Gen. John Brennan, a veteran of the defeat-IS mission who has a personal rapport with Kobane.

Brennan currently heads the Army’s First Special Forces Command. He previously oversaw the 2019 raid that led to the death of IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as deputy chief of the elite Joint Special Operations Command.

Know more: Despite continued coalition support, the SDF will be releasing more detainees from al-Hol as authorities struggle to maintain the camp, Hussam Hammoud writes.

Join hundreds of Middle East professionals with Al-Monitor PRO.

Business and policy professionals use PRO to monitor the regional economy and improve their reports, memos and presentations. Try it for free and cancel anytime.

Already a Member? Sign in

Free

The Middle East's Best Newsletters

Join over 50,000 readers who access our journalists dedicated newsletters, covering the top political, security, business and tech issues across the region each week.
Delivered straight to your inbox.

Free

What's included:
Our Expertise

Free newsletters available:

  • The Takeaway & Week in Review
  • Middle East Minute (AM)
  • Daily Briefing (PM)
  • Business & Tech Briefing
  • Security Briefing
  • Gulf Briefing
  • Israel Briefing
  • Palestine Briefing
  • Turkey Briefing
  • Iraq Briefing
Expert

Premium Membership

Join the Middle East's most notable experts for premium memos, trend reports, live video Q&A, and intimate in-person events, each detailing exclusive insights on business and geopolitical trends shaping the region.

$25.00 / month
billed annually

Become Member Start with 1-week free trial
What's included:
Our Expertise AI-driven

Memos - premium analytical writing: actionable insights on markets and geopolitics.

Live Video Q&A - Hear from our top journalists and regional experts.

Special Events - Intimate in-person events with business & political VIPs.

Trend Reports - Deep dive analysis on market updates.

All premium Industry Newsletters - Monitor the Middle East's most important industries. Prioritize your target industries for weekly review:

  • Capital Markets & Private Equity
  • Venture Capital & Startups
  • Green Energy
  • Supply Chain
  • Sustainable Development
  • Leading Edge Technology
  • Oil & Gas
  • Real Estate & Construction
  • Banking

We also offer team plans. Please send an email to pro.support@al-monitor.com and we'll onboard your team.

Already a Member? Sign in

The Middle East in your inbox Insights in your inbox.

Deepen your knowledge of the Middle East

Trend Reports

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (4th R) attends a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (3rd L) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on February 22, 2019. (Photo by HOW HWEE YOUNG / POOL / AFP) (Photo credit should read HOW HWEE YOUNG/AFP via Getty Images)
Premium

From roads to routers: The future of China-Middle East connectivity

A general view shows the solar plant in Uyayna, north of Riyadh, on March 29, 2018. - On March 27, Saudi announced a deal with Japan's SoftBank to build the world's biggest solar plant. (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP) (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)
Premium

Regulations on Middle East renewable energy industry starting to take shape

Start your PRO membership today.

Join the Middle East's top business and policy professionals to access exclusive PRO insights today.

Join Al-Monitor PRO Start with 1-week free trial