Syria’s Defense Ministry: SDF to Hand Over Al-Hol Camp
'All security and administrative responsibilities should fall under state institutions,' Syrian government said, signaling a major shift in governance following recent agreements between Damascus and the SDF.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Syrian Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) will transfer control of Al-Hol camp and the border with Iraq to the Syrian interim government.
In an official statement, the ministry stated, “SDF is gradually handing over all responsibilities to the Syrian government, including the administration of Al-Hol camp and border security with Iraq.”
Strategic Shift in Control
The Syrian government emphasized that all security and administrative responsibilities should fall under state institutions, signaling a major shift in governance following recent agreements between Damascus and the SDF.
Read More: ‘Agreement a Key Step Toward an Inclusive New Syria,’ Mazloum Abdi
Al-Hol camp, located in the southern countryside of Hasakah northeast Syria, (Rojava), has long been a security concern due to the presence of thousands of women and children affiliated with Islamic State (ISIS) militants. The camp has been under the control of the SDF for years, with repeated calls from Iraq and the international community for its closure due to growing security risks.
Iraq’s Concerns Over Security Threats
Iraq has repeatedly pushed for the closure of Al-Hol camp, fearing it could become a breeding ground for extremist activities. Iraqi authorities have warned of a potential resurgence of the 2014 scenario.
Baghdad has taken steps to repatriate its citizens from the camp, but thousands remain, fueling concerns that ISIS-affiliated individuals could exploit the camp’s conditions to regroup and spread instability across the border.
Escalating Security Challenges
The transition of Al-Hol camp’s administration to Damascus and the recent agreements between Damascus and the SDF comes amid heightened security tensions in Syria, particularly in the coastal regions of Latakia and Tartus.
Amid escalating sectarian violence in Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented the martyrdom of 911 citizens in Latakia and Tartous due to liquidation operations targeting individuals from various sects, including non-Alawites.
Latakia was the most affected, followed by Tartous, Hama, and Homs with more than 44 massacre. Since militants entered the conflict to support security forces, the death toll has risen to 1,093. These events raise serious concerns about Syria's stability and the devastating impact of sectarian violence on the country's social fabric.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has condemned radical Islamist groups for their role in massacres targeting Syria’s religious minorities, calling on the interim administration to hold perpetrators accountable.
Observers say that, the move to transfer Al-Hol camp to Syrian state control aligns with broader efforts to consolidate security under Damascus. However, they have some concerns over how the Syrian government will manage the camp’s residents and whether the transition will effectively mitigate long-standing threats posed by ISIS-linked elements.
