Syrian government forces entered areas of northeastern Syria over the weekend, in a move to expand its territorial control over the country, driving away Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters who held the territory. IS fighters and their families were being held in prisoner camps overseen by the SDF, but as the Syrian army advance, the SDF said it had to abandon their post at northeastern al-Hol camp, holding mostly women and children, and al-Aqtan prison for IS fighters.
Syria's army has reportedly entered the country's vast al-Hawl detention camp that houses relatives of suspected Islamic State jihadists, after Kurdish forces withdrew. A large group of soldiers opened the camp's metal gate and entered while others guarded the entrance, according to an Agence France-Presse journalist at the scene. Al-Hawl, located in a desert region of al-Hasakah province, holds about 24,000 people, including 15,000 Syrians and about 6,300 foreign women and children of 42 nationalities.
