DAMASCUS: Clashes erupted in the northeastern Syrian city of al-Shaddadi on Monday after ISIL detainees escaped from a local prison, prompting authorities to impose a citywide curfew.
According to the Syrian Army, around 120 ISIL fighters fled al-Shaddadi prison during fighting with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The violence broke out just one day after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Kobani announced a ceasefire agreement. Security forces imposed an immediate curfew across the city as operations began to track down the escaped militants.
The Syrian Army accused the SDF of deliberately releasing the detainees, a claim rejected by the Kurdish-led force. The SDF said it lost control of the prison following an army assault, which the military has denied. The SDF reported nine of its fighters were killed and 20 wounded during clashes around al-Aqtan prison, which remains at the center of ongoing security operations.
Most Escapees Recaptured
Syria’s Interior Ministry said 81 of the 120 escaped ISIL prisoners have since been recaptured, according to Reuters, with efforts continuing to apprehend the remaining fugitives. The Syrian Army’s Operations Authority announced that al-Aqtan prison and other security installations in al-Shaddadi will now be placed under the authority of the Ministry of Interior.
Broader Context
The incident follows a truce reached over the weekend between Damascus and the SDF, under which the Kurdish-led force agreed to withdraw from Raqqa and Deir Az Zor. However, Hasakah province, where al-Shaddadi is located, largely remains under SDF control, complicating security coordination. Both President al-Sharaa and U.S. President Donald Trump have stressed the importance of safeguarding Kurdish rights while maintaining Syria’s territorial integrity. The U.S.-led coalition against ISIL did not intervene in the clashes, despite appeals from the SDF.
