International Coalition provides security assistance to North and East Syria to prevent ISIS prisoners from escaping

HASAKAH, Syria – After the most recent attempt by Islamic State (ISIS) detainees in Al-Sinaa prison in Hasakah to escape, International Coalition forces have increased their security assistance to the Internal Security Forces (ISF) of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria who are responsible for security at the prison.

The International Coalition also helped construct additional fortifications at the prison and installed a series of security cameras to help prevent detainees from escaping. Prison staff were also provided with crowd-control equipment to intervene during riots by the detainees.

The prospect of ISIS members of escaping detention is a reality in a region largely lacking international support. According to Hawar News Agency, a group of ISIS members detained in a prison in the Al-Hul area of Hasakah took advantage of the Suhoor (early morning) meal served to them during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan to escape from prison.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have managed to re-arrest four of the escaped detainees, the search for the remaining fugitives is still underway.

The SDF and its political body, the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), have sought a solution to the status of foreign ISIS members for years. The international community, however, has indicated they have no intentions of repatriating their citizens, despite pressure from the U.S. Nor is the internal community mobilizing to try ISIS members in existing courts of ad hoc tribunals.