DAMASCUS, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army said Monday in an update that it has taken control of the Shaddadi area and its prison holding thousands of Islamic State (IS) suspects in northeastern Hasakah province after the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reported a loss of control over the facility amid escalating clashes.
The army said it has secured the prison complex and immediately launched search operations to recapture escaped inmates, whom it accused the SDF of releasing during recent clashes. A full curfew has been imposed on the area, it added.
Earlier in the day, the SDF said the prison had come under repeated attacks by Damascus-affiliated forces, leading to heavy casualties before it lost control of the site. It warned of serious security repercussions and potential IS resurgence.
The Syrian interim government rejected the SDF's claims, accusing it of attempting to politicize the issue and use prisons as leverage.
The interim government said it is fully prepared to secure all detention facilities in accordance with international standards and prevent any escape of IS detainees. It also warned that any facilitation of detainee releases would be treated as a grave security threat.
The development occurred a day after the interim government and the SDF signed an agreement that includes a ceasefire, the withdrawal of SDF forces to east of the Euphrates River, and the transfer of key sovereign institutions, including detention facilities, to state control.
Observers have noted that the development reveals the fragility of the deal and persistent mistrust between the two sides, with the handling of IS detainees remaining a volatile issue in the region. ■
