The Syrian Ministry of Interior acknowledged on Wednesday that there had been cases of mass escape from Al-Hawl camp, which was housing the families of members suspected of belonging to the "Islamic State" organization. This came after an internal European Union memorandum raised security concerns about the escape of thousands of people from Al-Hawl camp, indicating the possibility of them being recruited by armed groups. The spokesman for the Ministry of Interior stated that "it was found that there were cases of mass escape as a result of the random opening of the camp."

Published on: 02/25/2026 - 17:46 Last updated: 02/25/2026 - 20:52

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The Syrian Ministry of Interior confirmed on Wednesday that there had been a mass escape from Al-Hawl camp, shortly after the withdrawal of the Kurdish forces that were managing it. Before it was closed a few days ago, the camp was housing families of members suspected of belonging to the "Islamic State" organization, including foreigners.

Government forces took over the camp on January 20, before reaching an agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which was managing it.

Nour al-Din al-Baba, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, said that the Syrian Democratic Forces withdrew from the camp "suddenly, uncoordinated, and without any prior notification to the ministry or our partners in the international coalition." He continued, "This withdrawal took place more than six hours before the army arrived."

He stated that upon the arrival of the specialized teams, “it was discovered that there had been cases of mass escape as a result of the random opening of the camp.” The spokesman pointed out that some of the guards evacuated their positions with their weapons, while "internal barriers within the camp were removed, which led to a state of chaos," before the Syrian security forces intervened to control the situation.

Read also: The Syrian army declares Al-Hawl camp, which houses jihadist families, a “closed security zone”

The camp included about 23,500 people, “70 percent” of whom were children, women and the elderly, most of whom were Syrians and Iraqis, in addition to about six thousand and 500 people from 44 nationalities, according to the Pope.

The spokesman pointed out that after entering the site, it appeared that “there is a discrepancy between the rumored number and the reality on the ground.” He confirmed that the authorities are in the process of conducting a census of the camp's population and will announce the numbers soon.

"Unknown fate"

The security forces detected “more than 138 openings in the camp’s wall extending about 17 kilometers, which “facilitated unorganized exit operations through smuggling networks that seem to be fully aware of the nature of the place and its previous management,” according to the Pope.

He said that the authorities are monitoring "the conditions of those who left the camp in an unorganized manner." He added that it "returned the majority of them and settled their legal status," without specifying their number.

Read also: Syria: 11 soldiers killed and security forces deploy inside Al-Hawl camp the day after the Kurdish units withdraw

Sources in humanitarian organizations and witnesses reported, in February, that most of the foreigners who were in the camp left after the Kurdish forces withdrew from it.

A few days ago, the Syrian authorities announced the closure of the camp located in Al-Hasakah Governorate in northeastern Syria after evacuating its last residents.

Human Rights Watch reported in a report on Monday that “the fate of about eight thousand and 500 people detained in camps containing the families of men suspected of belonging to the ‘Islamic State’... in northeastern Syria remains unknown.”

France 24/AFP/Reuters

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