SDF kills 13 ISIS fighters in renewed fighting in Hasakah

"Therefore, our forces have raided specific locations in the neighborhood, pursuing these terrorists." 
Fighting between ISIS and SDF fighters continued on Sunday for a fourth day (Photo: SDF Media Centre)
Fighting between ISIS and SDF fighters continued on Sunday for a fourth day (Photo: SDF Media Centre)

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) killed 13 ISIS fighters and arrested two others during the fourth day of fighting near the al-Sina'a prison facility in the Kurdish-controlled city of Hasakah in northeastern Syria. 

"Our forces are dealing with (unidentified) terrorist cells coming from the Geweran neighborhood, south of al-Hasaka, trying to support Daesh (ISIS) terrorist mutineers trapped in the northern section of al-Sina'a prison," the SDF said in a statement.

"Therefore, our forces have raided specific locations in the neighborhood, pursuing these terrorists." 

The SDF also said that it has "tightened the security cordon imposed on the northern wall of al-Sina'a prison and conducted this morning precision military operations in which they managed to neutralize 13 attacker mercenaries and arrest two others." 

"Our forces are fighting with high precision to prevent these terrorists from partial or total impunity."

In northeast Syria, ISIS launched a deadly assault on a detention facility for ISIS fighters in Hasakah on Thursday. Fighting between ISIS and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) there is ongoing.

On Saturday, the SDF announced that since the ISIS attack on Jan. 20, 17 SDF fighters and the Internal Security Forces and service institutions' volunteers were killed.

"We wish speedy recovery for 23 of our fellow fighters and civil employees injured during the attack," the SDF said.

Read More: 22 ISIS fighters killed in fighting near Hasakah prison: SDF

Furthermore, 22 ISIS fighters were killed during fighting between ISIS and SDF forces on Saturday.

The US issued a statement on Saturday, denouncing the ISIS attack.

Read More: US condemns ISIS attack in Syria

"The United States condemns Thursday's ISIS attack on the Hasakah Provincial Internal Security Forces detention center," State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said, describing it as "an attempt to free detained ISIS fighters."

There have been several attempted prison breaks in the last two years from inside and outside ISIS detention facilities in Hasakah. But so far, no prisoners have escaped.

In November, the SDF prevented a planned attack on Hasakah's Gweiran prison by arresting several suspects, including Mohamed Abid al-Awad, the cell leader. 

Read More: Kurdish-led forces foil jailbreak attempt at ISIS prison in Syria's Hasakah

The SDF holds over 14,000 captured suspected Islamic State fighters, including 2,000 foreign nationals. So far, most European countries have refused to take back their foreign nationals.

The prison in Hasakah houses some 3,500 suspected ISIS members.