Al-Hol camp in Syria’s Al-Hasakah province is back in the spotlight. Home to around 24,000 people—mostly women and children related to ISIS militants—the camp was previously guarded by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SDF withdrew, citing the “international community’s indifference and failure to take responsibility,” following advances by the Syrian army in Al-Hasakah and northeastern Syria.

The SDF has been responsible for guarding ISIS prisons and camps in Al-Hasakah, Raqqa, and Deir ez-Zor since joining the U.S.-led international coalition against terrorism. They received funding, training, and equipment from the coalition to carry out this mission, which has continued since 2019, when Kurdish forces fought their final battles against ISIS and defeated the group in the region.

In recent days, the SDF withdrew from Al-Hol camp under the pretext of “redeployment,” citing the international community’s failure to take responsibility. However, the underlying reasons can be divided into two main points:

The first reason appears to be an attempt to pressure the Syrian government to halt its advances in northeastern Syria. The SDF is well aware of the risks posed by ISIS fighters and their families escaping from prisons and camps, as well as the potential resurgence of ISIS activity amid growing tensions with Syrian authorities—who themselves are part of the anti-terrorism coalition. Recent, though unsuccessful, ISIS attempts to destabilize the government underscore these concerns.

The second reason appears to be an attempt to pressure the international community—especially Europe and the United States—to support the SDF out of concern over a potential ISIS resurgence outside Syria. Many detainees in the prisons and camps are Europeans, and this move comes after the international community signaled its support for Syrian authorities’ operations in northeastern Syria.

What's Next?

Concerns have intensified in Syria and neighboring countries—especially Iraq—because Al-Hol camp lies near the border, and the surrounding northeastern region houses multiple ISIS prisons. Worries extend beyond the region to Europe, as thousands of camp and prison detainees are foreigners, and a resurgence of ISIS activity could have direct security implications for European countries that participated in the international anti-ISIS coalition.

Iraq is particularly concerned about losing control over ISIS fighters in northeastern Syria, given its proximity and its history of ISIS activity in previous years. According to Annahar, Baghdad has deployed reinforcements from the Border Guard, the Iraqi army, and the Popular Mobilization Forces. However, Major General Tahsin Al-Khafaji, spokesperson for the Joint Operations Command, stated that “there are no indicators of serious threats.”

Journalist Nurhan Hassan warned of a potential resurgence of ISIS, noting that “escaped militants from Al-Shaddadi prison and individuals from Al-Hol camp, who were potential fighters, could form factions.” In a conversation with Annahar, she predicted the possibility of ISIS reestablishing a presence in Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, or both provinces.

According to Syrian reports, authorities have deployed significant reinforcements to secure Al-Hol camp following the SDF’s withdrawal and have recaptured some escapees. A Syrian source emphasized that the government is committed to maintaining the security of the camp and prisons, preventing ISIS fighters from fleeing, and halting the group’s activities, which openly oppose government policies and aim to destabilize Syria.

Ultimately, ISIS’s “time bombs” in northeastern Syria pose internal, regional, and international concerns, as any resurgence could affect all countries that previously fought the group. Nevertheless, estimates suggest that the Syrian government will manage the ISIS threat with international support, in line with the stability-oriented approach promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump, which views Syria as a key component of regional security.

Syrian forces at the entrance to Al-Hol camp (AFP).