Syrian NGO reveals new details on Islamic State attack on Hasaka prison

Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ), a non-profit NGO for human rights, said in a report published on Wednesday (June 1) on the Islamic State (ISIS) attack on al-Sinaa prison in Hasaka that 10 employees of the prison were beheaded by the militants and their bodies burned.

Syrian Democratic Forces said at least 200 ISIS suicide bombers staged the attack on the prison in January while inmates inside managed to get hold of weapons and take more than 70 prison guards hostage, according to the report.

It is unknown how the inmates managed to get hold of the weapons, some of which were improvised, the details of the report noted. It confirmed there was coordination between the detainees and ISIS sleeper cells outside the prison.

Many of the prison guards were part of a civilian force and were unarmed for security reasons, the STJ said, and according to a video ISIS published from ISIS media, Amaq, the Kurdish and Arab hostages were separated.

Syrian Democratic Forces said 77 prison staff and fighters were killed in the ten days of clashes that followed the prison break out, as well as 40 SDF members and 374 ISIS militants.

SDF military operations to regain the prison and free the hostages rescued 23 prison guards, partly through negotiations and partly through the security operations, according to the STJ report.

Sources estimate hundreds of ISIS detainees escaped from the prison, which held thousands of inmates from 50 different countries, including at least 15 commanders, the NGO’s report stated. Reports confirm some of the detainees reached the Turkish border area at Ras al Ayn/Sere Kaniye, which is under the control of the Turkish military and their allied militias.

Source: NRTTV