Syrian Troops Capture Al‑Aqtan Prison as U.S. Begins Large‑Scale IS Detainee Transfers to Iraq
Updated (7 articles)
Syrian Troops Capture Al‑Aqtan and Shaddadeh Prisons On Jan 23, 2026 Syrian government forces entered al‑Aqtan prison north of Raqqa after Kurdish fighters evacuated under a negotiated deal, making it the second detention site seized following the earlier takeover of Shaddadeh prison near the Iraq border earlier that week. The Interior Ministry said the prisons are now administered by the state prisons authority and that detainee files are being reviewed. About 120 IS detainees fled Shaddadeh during the chaos, but state media later reported that most were recaptured. [1]
UN Takes Over Al‑Hol Camp Amid Ongoing Tension The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees assumed management of the al‑Hol camp on Jan 22 after the Kurdish‑led SDF withdrew, establishing a security perimeter staffed by Syrian forces. Conditions inside the camp remain tense and humanitarian aid operations stay suspended because of recent violence. The UN coordinates with Syrian authorities to restore access, but residents report looting and attempts to flee the camp perimeter. [2]
U.S. Begins Large‑Scale Transfer of IS Detainees to Iraq Beginning on Jan 21, the U.S. Central Command moved roughly 150 IS detainees from detention sites in Hassakeh to secure facilities in Iraq, with plans to relocate up to 7,000 prisoners overall. The transfers follow a request from Baghdad and have been welcomed by both the U.S.-led coalition and the Syrian government. Iraqi officials confirmed the first batch’s arrival and said detainees of various nationalities, including dozens of Tunisians, will be interrogated and tried. [3][4][5][6]
Displacement, Ceasefire, and SDF Relocation Follow Government Advance A four‑day ceasefire was declared after the government’s push displaced thousands of Kurds, many of whom moved toward Hassakeh and Kobani via a corridor opened for nearly 800 SDF fighters. The ceasefire enabled Damascus to extend control over much of northeast Syria, while the SDF withdrew from key detention sites and the al‑Hol camp. Ongoing clashes have still resulted in casualties, including seven Syrian soldiers killed in a drone strike in Hassakeh. [1][5][7]
Human‑Rights Groups Warn of Abuse Risks in Detainee Moves Rights organizations such as Reprieve cautioned that detainees transferred to Iraq could face torture, death sentences, or denial of legal safeguards, and they highlighted the possible presence of British nationals among the prisoners. Iraq’s deputy UN ambassador stressed that the transfers should not become a long‑term burden for Iraq. The concerns persist despite Syrian and U.S. officials portraying the operation as a security measure. [2][5]
Conflicting Reports on Prison Break Escape Numbers Syrian interior ministry officials said security forces captured 81 of the roughly 120 IS escapees after the Shaddadeh break, while the SDF claimed that as many as 1,500 militants fled and accused government‑aligned groups of releasing them. CNN noted it could not independently verify the SDF’s higher figure. The divergent accounts illustrate the contested narrative surrounding the prison incidents. [7]
Sources
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1.
AP: Syrian forces seize al‑Aqtan prison housing IS detainees after Kurdish evacuation: Syrian troops took al‑Aqtan after Kurdish fighters left, marking a second prison capture following Shaddadeh, reviewing detainee files, opening a corridor for 800 SDF fighters, and prompting displacement and a ceasefire.
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2.
BBC: UN to run al‑Hol camp in Syria as Kurdish‑led withdrawal gives Damascus control: UNHCR assumed management of al‑Hol, set up a security perimeter, reported tense conditions and suspended aid, while noting a ceasefire shift and U.S. transfers of up to 7,000 IS detainees to Iraq, with Iraq warning against a long‑term burden.
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3.
AP: IS prisoners moved from Syria to Iraq after Baghdad request, officials say: Baghdad requested the transfer, leading to the first movement of about 150 detainees and a potential total of 7,000, while the SDF still holds roughly 9,000 IS members and Syrian forces seized al‑Hol camp.
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4.
AP: US begins transferring ISIS detainees from Syria to Iraq as prisons shift to government control: The U.S. started moving 150 ISIS members to Iraq after Syrian forces captured al‑Hol and Shaddadeh prisons; the SDF is set to hand over its detention network, and Iraqi officials confirmed the arrivals and plan to interrogate commanders.
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5.
BBC: US moves up to 7,000 IS detainees from Syria to Iraq as Damascus takes control: CENTCOM reported the transfer following a ceasefire that handed northeast Syria to Damascus, with Admiral Brad Cooper speaking to President al‑Sharaa; rights groups warned of torture risks and British nationals, and fresh clashes killed seven soldiers.
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6.
AP: IS detainees moved from Syria to Iraq as government forces seize detention centers: 150 detainees were transferred, Syrian troops took full control of al‑Hol, Shaddadeh holds about 9,000 inmates, camps house tens of thousands including Shamima Begum, and Iraq received a first batch of 144 detainees, many Tunisians, as Syria joins the anti‑IS coalition.
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7.
CNN: Syrian forces hunt ISIS fugitives after prison break: The interior ministry announced capture of 81 of 120 escapees, while the SDF claimed roughly 1,500 fled, accusing government‑linked groups of releases; the SDF also withdrew from al‑Hol, and CENTCOM noted over 40,000 displaced in the camps.
Timeline
Late 2025 – Syria’s government joins the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS, pledging to take over detention camps and prisons as part of a broader peace process that envisions merging SDF forces with state security structures[7].
Jan 20, 2026 – The SDF withdraws from al‑Hol camp, citing international indifference to the ISIS threat, while a prison break at Shaddadeh releases roughly 1,500 ISIS fighters according to SDF spokesman Farhad Shami, and the Syrian interior ministry reports that security forces recapture 81 of the 120 escapees[3].
Jan 20, 2026 – Reports estimate al‑Hol holds about 24,000 residents and al‑Roj about 2,500, including British‑born Shamima Begum, and Iraqi intelligence confirms the first batch of 144 detainees, among them 240 Tunisians, arrives in Iraq for interrogation[7].
Jan 21, 2026 – The U.S. Central Command begins moving detainees, transferring roughly 150 ISIS members from Hassakeh to secure Iraqi facilities and stating the operation could eventually shift up to 7,000 prisoners to prevent a breakout[6].
Jan 21, 2026 – Admiral Brad Cooper tells Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa that “the cease‑fire must hold and authorities must avoid actions that could disrupt the transfer,” underscoring U.S. diplomatic pressure to keep the handover orderly[2].
Jan 21, 2026 – Syrian government forces seize al‑Hol camp and the Shaddadeh prison, declaring the sites now under the prisons authority and beginning a review of detainee files, while the SDF announces it will hand over its dozen detention facilities holding about 9,000 IS members as the peace process advances[6].
Jan 21, 2026 – Rights group Reprieve warns that transferred detainees face “risk of torture, death sentences, or lack of rights to contest allegations,” and urges the UK to verify whether any British nationals are among the moved prisoners[2].
Jan 21, 2026 – Fresh clashes break the cease‑fire, with the Syrian defence ministry reporting seven soldiers killed in a drone strike in Hassakeh and the SDF accusing Damascus of attacks near Kobane, highlighting the fragility of the security transition[2].
Jan 22, 2026 – Baghdad formally requests the transfer of IS prisoners, and the U.S. confirms the first 150 detainees have moved to Iraq, while senior U.S. officials note Iraq “offered proactively to take IS prisoners” to relieve Syrian detention sites[5].
Jan 22, 2026 – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees assumes management of al‑Hol, establishing a security perimeter with Syrian forces, and a UN spokesman cautions that “conditions inside the camp remain fragile and volatile” as humanitarian operations stay suspended[1].
Jan 22, 2026 – Iraq’s deputy UN ambassador stresses that the detainee transfers “must not become a long‑term burden on Iraq,” even as Syria’s UN ambassador welcomes the operation and offers support for the move[1].
Jan 23, 2026 – Syrian troops capture al‑Aqtan prison north of Raqqa after Kurdish fighters evacuate under a deal, making it the second detention site to fall under government control following Shaddadeh, and begin reviewing detainee records[4].
Jan 23, 2026 – A four‑day cease‑fire is declared after the government’s northeast push displaces thousands of Kurds into Hassakeh, while a corridor allows roughly 800 SDF fighters to relocate west toward Kobani under coalition protection[4].
Mid‑2026 (planned) – The UN plans to maintain its coordination role at al‑Hol while humanitarian aid resumes gradually, and the U.S. signals that the transfer operation will continue in stages until the target of up to 7,000 IS detainees reaches Iraqi custody[1][6].