SDF prevents escape attempt by 89 ISIS prisoners near Hasakah prison

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) arrested 89 ISIS detainees who were attempting to escape near the Ghweran prison facility in Hasakah city in northeast Syria.

“Our forces thwarted a mass escape attempt by Daesh (ISIS) members in Al Gweran prison in Hasakah city, and managed to capture 89 in the vicinity of the prison,” the SDF said in a press release on Friday evening. “Clashes are ongoing in the vicinity of the prison.”

The Syria-based Rojava Information Centre (RIC) also tweeted that “89 ISIS detainees were arrested immediately outside of the prison; 8 escaped, though 2 were re-arrested later.”

Read More: SDF arrest two ISIS suspects who tried to escape Hasakah prison

ISIS attacked a detention facility holding suspected terrorists in the Syrian city of Hasakah with an explosive-laden car late Thursday.

Following the bombing, the SDF denied reports that around 15 to 20 ISIS members had escaped Hasakah's al-Sina'a prison facility.

The SDF also said its fighters are working to recapture the fleeing individuals. There is still ongoing fighting near the prison, with local civilians fleeing the Ghweran neighborhood, Kurdish journalist Mohammed Hassan reported from Hasakah.

Mass exodus from #Ghweran neighborhood, where #ISIS imprisoned foreigners in #Al_Hassakah pic.twitter.com/M2zQlHZtTU

— MOHAMMED HASSAN (@MHJournalist) January 21, 2022

The SDF has over 14,000 suspected ISIS fighters in captivity, including 2,000 foreign nationals. So far, most European countries have refused to take back their foreign nationals.

Until now, the SDF has prevented several jailbreak attempts by prisoners inside the prison, and from ISIS sleeper cells outside of the prison.