Feb 23 • 14:12 UTC 🇪🇸 Spain El País

Syria dismantles the largest camp for ISIS women after a massive escape

Syria has dismantled the Al Hol camp, allowing the escape of at least 16,000 jihadists and their children amidst control changes between Damascus troops and Kurdish militias.

The Al Hol camp, once the largest facility for women and children associated with ISIS, has been fully evacuated following a massive escape during a chaotic transition of control between the Syrian government forces and Kurdish militia. Reports indicate that at least 16,000 individuals, including jihadists and their children, took advantage of the turmoil to flee the complex. This evacuation marks a significant turning point as the Al Hol camp had been a focal point of controversy for years, housing the remnants of families linked to the now-defunct Islamic State caliphate.

For the past seven years, many women and children at Al Hol have lived in legal limbo, caught between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) who operated the camp and the refusal of their home countries to repatriate them. With the recent dismantling of the camp, these individuals now face a precarious future, as they are the last remnants of a radical ideology that has faced significant military defeat yet continues to pose a security risk. The issue is compounded by international concerns regarding the integration of these individuals back into society and the implications for national and regional security.

As the camp closes, the Syrian authorities are reportedly reassigning the remaining detainees to Aleppo, creating new challenges for the region already burdened by ongoing conflict and instability. The dismantling underscores broader geopolitical implications, highlighting the enduring struggle to manage the fallout of ISIS's legacy and the ongoing strife in Syria, which has left millions displaced and in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

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