Iraqi officials warn of ISIS threat from al-Hol Camp as tensions escalate in Syria

Iraqi officials are raising alarms over the potential influx of ISIS fighters into Iraq, following growing instability in Syria’s al-Hol Camp. The camp, situated in Hasakah province in northeastern Syria, currently holds approximately 40,000 people from 42 nationalities, primarily families and relatives of ISIS militants.

Officials fear that ongoing clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkey-backed Syrian rebel groups could destabilize the camp, allowing many ISIS members to escape and cross into Iraq. This development, they warn, poses a grave risk to national security.

For months, Iraqi authorities have voiced concerns about the volatile conditions at al-Hol Camp, emphasizing the threat of prison breaks and terrorist infiltration. Reports indicate that ISIS cells in Syria are reorganizing and obtaining weapons from Syrian regime arsenals, further exacerbating the security situation.

Karim Ali Wali, chairman of the Security and Defense Committee in the Iraqi parliament, underlined the significant impact of Syrian unrest on Iraq. “The developments in Syria, including the presence of groups like ISIS and al-Nusra Front, directly affect Iraq and the wider region. Many of these groups are backed by regional and foreign actors,” he stated.

Ali highlighted that al-Hol Camp and several detention facilities remain under SDF control, but persistent threats from Turkish military operations jeopardize the camp’s stability. “Thousands of ISIS-affiliated Iraqis and Syrians are housed in al-Hol. Their escape would severely undermine Iraq’s security,” he warned.

As tensions in Syria escalate, Iraqi security forces are on high alert, closely monitoring the border and preparing for potential security breaches. Iraqi lawmakers continue to push for coordinated regional efforts to address the evolving threat.

Source » kurdistan24.net