Latest news with #AlHolCamp
Asharq Al-Awsat
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Syrian Govt Visits Notorious Al-Hol Camp for First Time Since Kurds Deal
A Syrian government delegation visited a notorious camp in the Kurdish-administered northeast that hosts families of suspected ISIS group members, the new authorities' first visit, both sides said Saturday. Kurdish-run camps and prisons in the northeast hold tens of thousands of people, many with alleged or perceived links to ISIS, more than five years after the group's territorial defeat in Syria. Kurdish administration official Sheikhmous Ahmed said "a tripartite meeting was held on Saturday in the Al-Hol camp" that included a government delegation, another from the US-led international coalition fighting ISIS, and Kurdish administration members. Al-Hol is northeast Syria's largest camp, housing some 37,000 people from dozens of countries, including 14,500 Iraqis, in dire conditions. Discussions involved "establishing a mechanism for removing Syrian families from Al-Hol camp", Ahmed said. The visit comes more than two months after interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Mazloum Abdi, head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, agreed to integrate the Kurds' civil and military institutions into the national government. The deal also involved guaranteeing the return of all Syrians to their hometowns and villages. No progress has yet been reported on the administration's integration into the new government. In Damascus, interior ministry spokesperson Noureddine al-Baba told reporters Al-Hol is "part of the agreement" signed by Sharaa and Abdi. He said the issue requires "a comprehensive societal solution for the families who are victims" of ISIS. In February, the Kurdish administration said that in coordination with the United Nations, it aimed to empty camps in the northeast of thousands of displaced Syrians and Iraqi refugees, including suspected relatives of extremists, by the end of the year. Al-Hol includes a high-security section for families of foreign ISIS fighters. Ahmed said the fate of those families "is linked to the countries that have nationals (in the camp), and to the international coalition", which supported Kurdish-led forces who fought ISIS, detaining its fighters and their relatives. The Kurds have repeatedly called on countries to repatriate their citizens, but foreign governments have allowed home only a trickle, fearing security threats and a domestic political backlash. It is unclear who will administer prisons holding thousands of ISIS fighters in the northeast, with Abdi saying in February the new authorities wanted them under Damascus's control.
Al Arabiya
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Syrian government visits notorious camp for first time since Kurds deal
A Syrian government delegation visited a notorious camp in the Kurdish-administered northeast that hosts families of suspected ISIS group extremists, the new authorities' first visit, both sides said Saturday. Kurdish-run camps and prisons in the northeast hold tens of thousands of people, many with alleged or perceived links to the ISIS group, more than five years after ISIS's territorial defeat in Syria. Kurdish administration official Sheikhmous Ahmed said 'a tripartite meeting was held on Saturday in the Al-Hol camp' that included a government delegation, another from the US-led international coalition fighting ISIS, and Kurdish administration members. Al-Hol is northeast Syria's largest camp, housing some 37,000 people from dozens of countries, including 14,500 Iraqis, in dire conditions. Discussions involved 'establishing a mechanism for removing Syrian families from Al-Hol camp,' Ahmed said. The visit comes more than two months after President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Mazloum Abdi, head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, agreed to integrate the Kurds' civil and military institutions into the national government. The deal also involved guaranteeing the return of all Syrians to their hometowns and villages. No progress has yet been reported on the administration's integration into the new government. In Damascus, interior ministry spokesperson Noureddine al-Baba told reporters Al-Hol is 'part of the agreement' signed by al-Sharaa and Abdi. He said the issue requires 'a comprehensive societal solution for the families who are victims' of ISIS. In February, the Kurdish administration said that in coordination with the United Nations, it aimed to empty camps in the northeast of thousands of displaced Syrians and Iraqi refugees, including suspected relatives of extremists, by the end of the year. Al-Hol includes a high-security section for families of foreign ISIS fighters. Ahmed said the fate of those families 'is linked to the countries that have nationals (in the camp), and to the international coalition,' which supported Kurdish-led forces who fought ISIS, detaining its fighters and their relatives. The Kurds have repeatedly called on countries to repatriate their citizens, but foreign governments have allowed home only a trickle, fearing security threats and a domestic political backlash. It is unclear who will administer prisons holding thousands of ISIS fighters in the northeast, with Abdi saying in February the new authorities wanted them under Damascus's control.
The National
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Damascus and Kurdish-led SDF begin co-ordination on return of Syrians from ISIS-linked camps
Syria's new ruling authorities have begun co-ordinating with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who control the north-east of the country, regarding the return of Syrians held in Al Hol camp for ISIS-linked prisoners and their families, its director Jihan Hanan told The National. On Saturday, a Syrian government delegation visited the Al Hol camp for the first time, paving the way for the first-ever return of detainees. 'Syrians in our camp are from areas under government control, like Idlib, Aleppo, Damascus, and need to return to their homes in co-ordination with the government in Damascus. We're meeting with the delegation to determine a mechanism. Co-ordination between us and them is necessary,' she said. Al Hol is part of a network of camps and prisons run by Kurdish-led authorities in north-east Syria. Earlier in May, US President Donald Trump called on Syrian interim President Ahmad Al Shara to take responsibility for ISIS detention centers in the region. Ms Hanan denied speculation that the visit was related to the handover of the camp to the new Syrian authorities. 'The delegation was here regarding the return of the Syrians, not the handover of the camp,' she said. 'It's a voluntary return, if they want to come back, it will happen through co-ordination with the new authorities.' In March, the Syrian government reached a breakthrough agreement with the SDF to integrate most civilian and military institutions in north-east Syria, including border crossings, the airport, and oil and gas fields, under the control of the new central government. The deal has yet to be implemented. The vast majority of the camp's 37,000 residents are women and children, including nationals from Western countries. Originally established for Iraqi and Syrian civilians fleeing the war against ISIS, the camp's population surged following the the extremist group's defeat in Baghouz in 2019. As a result, it hosts both war displaced and suspected ISIS families. Asked about the mechanism and who would be eligible for return, Mr Haana said the details had yet to be determined. The National visited the sprawling camp in February, where thousands live in dire conditions, further threatened by looming aid cuts. Amid the deteriorating situation, Iraq has also launched a repatriation programme, which it says will be completed by 2027.
South China Morning Post
24-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Syrian govt, Kurdish officials visit notorious prison camp
A Syrian government delegation visited a notorious camp in the Kurdish-administered northeast that hosts families of suspected Islamic State group jihadists, the new authorities' first visit, both sides said Saturday. Advertisement Kurdish-run camps and prisons in the northeast hold tens of thousands of people, many with alleged or perceived links to Isis, more than five years after Isis's territorial defeat in Syria. Kurdish administration official Sheikhmous Ahmed said 'a tripartite meeting was held on Saturday in the Al-Hol camp' that included a government delegation, another from the US-led international coalition fighting IS, and Kurdish administration members. Al-Hol is northeast Syria's largest camp, housing some 37,000 people from dozens of countries, including 14,500 Iraqis, in dire conditions. Discussions involved 'establishing a mechanism for removing Syrian families from Al-Hol camp', Ahmed said. Advertisement The visit comes more than two months after interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Mazloum Abdi, head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, agreed to integrate the Kurds' civil and military institutions into the national government. The deal also involved guaranteeing the return of all Syrians to their hometowns and villages.
