Syrian army enters al-Shaddadi after accusing SDF of releasing ISIS detainees

Syrian army units entered the city of al-Shaddadi in the Hasakah countryside on Monday, following allegations that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) released members of the Islamic State group from a local prison, according to a statement by the Syrian Arab Army’s Operations Command.

In its statement, the army said its forces had moved into al-Shaddadi to secure the prison and its surroundings and to carry out search operations in the city and nearby areas to arrest inmates allegedly released by the SDF who belong to ISIS. It added that the prison and security facilities in al-Shaddadi would be handed over to the Ministry of Interior after the completion of security and combing operations.

The army command said it had previously contacted mediators and SDF commanders to arrange the transfer of al-Shaddadi prison to Internal Security Forces for protection, but claimed that the SDF leadership had refused. The statement held the SDF fully responsible for what it described as the release of ISIS members and said the army would take all necessary measures to restore order in the area.

The SDF, for its part, said in a separate statement that al-Shaddadi prison was no longer under its control. It stated that the prison is located about two kilometres from an international coalition base, but that the base did not intervene despite repeated calls for assistance.

The SDF also said that since Monday morning, al-Shaddadi prison, which it said holds thousands of ISIS detainees, had been subjected to repeated attacks by factions it described as being backed by Damascus.

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