US EditionEU Memo Raises Security Concerns over Mass Escape From IS-Linked Syria Camp
Thousands fled al-Hol camp after Syrian government took control, raising fears of militant recruitment from escapees amid limited facility management capacity, EU memo said.
- A Cyprus‑sent memo on February 23, 2026, warned of security risks after thousands fled al‑Hol camp, raising concerns about militant recruitment efforts.
- The Kurdish‑led Syrian Democratic Forces , which had guarded al‑Hol camp for years, say they were compelled to withdraw to threatened areas after Syrian government forces seized control in January, while Damascus accused the SDF of withdrawing on January 20 without coordination.
- Around 25,000 people, mainly women and children, were held at al‑Hol and Roj camps, with many described as highly radicalised and living in degrading conditions.
- The U.N. refugee agency in Syria and the Syrian government confirmed an uncontrolled exodus over weeks, while the EU memo described a 'chaotic takeover' that collapsed security and said Damascus faces limited management capacity.
- Amid rising Islamic State attacks, the memo warned Roj could see escapes once Syrian government control shifts, noting high-profile detainee Shamima Begum and 34 Australian nationals released last week.
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The Syrian Ministry of the Interior confirmed on Wednesday that massive escapes of relatives of jihadists from the Islamic State (IS) group had taken place in the Al-Hol camp, after the withdrawal of Kurdish troops at the end of January.
The Virginian Pilot
‘Mass escape’ occurred before IS-linked camp in Syria was closed
By GHAITH ALSAYED DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A now-closed camp that housed thousands of people with suspected links to the Islamic State group in northeast Syria has witnessed “mass escape” in the weeks since government forces took control of it, with at least 133 breaches discovered, a Syrian official said Wednesday. The escapes during clashes between Syrian forces and Kurdish fighters who controlled the camp have raised security concerns in a regi…
The Syrian Interior Ministry announced on Wednesday that mass escapes had been recorded from al-Hol camp, which housed families of individuals suspected of belonging to the Islamic State (ISIS), including foreigners, following the sudden withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces from the site.
Syria reports ‘mass escape’ from detention camp holding ISIS-linked families amid reports thousands fled
A “mass escape” took place last month from Syria’s al-Hol camp that holds tens of thousands of ISIS-linked families, following the withdrawal of Kurdish forces, Syrian TV reported, amid reports thousands of people may have fled.
der Standard AT
der Standard DEAccording to the Ministry of the Interior, after the withdrawal of Kurdish forces, "more than 138 openings" were found in the camp's outer confinement
The Syrian Interior Ministry noted a "collective escape" from the Al-Hol camp, where members of IS fighters were accommodated.
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