Chaos erupts at Syria’s largest ISIS prison as new government takes control

Forces from Syria’s new government seized control of the al-Hawl detention camp on Monday after Kurdish guards abruptly withdrew from the sprawling facility in the country’s northeast.

The camp currently holds at least 24,000 suspected Islamic State members representing 42 different nations. The change in control follows the expiration of a fragile ceasefire between the government and Kurdish forces on Saturday night.

The sudden withdrawal of security sparked immediate chaos as prisoners attempted to escape by cutting through perimeter fences. A riot broke out in the sections housing Syrian and Iraqi detainees, resulting in the destruction of a bakery that was set on fire.

Non-governmental organizations have also pulled out of the facility, leading to critical shortages of bread and drinking water.

The new administration in Damascus vowed to secure the camp and prevent further escape attempts. Government officials stated they are coordinating with the U.S.-led international coalition and urged international aid organizations to return to the site.

Authorities also indicated they may move to fast-track the release of Syrian and Iraqi detainees who do not face clear evidence of criminal activity.

The assumption of control over the world’s largest ISIS detention facilities by a new administration in Damascus—led by former insurgent commanders—presents a high-stakes security crisis. This abrupt shift in command raises urgent questions regarding regional stability and the future of global counter-terrorism architecture.

The withdrawal of Kurdish forces, the West’s primary partner in the coalition to defeat ISIS, has left a dangerous power vacuum. Initial reports of riots and attempted jailbreaks underscore the fragility of the security apparatus in northeastern Syria. This transition marks the first significant test for the new leadership; their capacity to prevent a mass escape and stabilize the humanitarian fallout will be the primary metric by which the international community gauges their governance and legitimacy.

Furthermore, the issue of foreign fighters and their families, which many Western governments have sidelined for years, has reached a critical flashpoint. The risk that hardened militants from more than 40 countries could escape is forcing a reluctant international community back to the negotiating table. The humanitarian crisis within these camps, long decried as a "legal black hole," now functions as a security time bomb. Without a coordinated response, these facilities risk becoming the epicenter of an extremist resurgence, providing a fertile breeding ground for radicalization within the very structures meant to contain it.