Syria clarifies situation after mass escape from IS-linked camp

Syrian authorities said Wednesday that chaos at the detention camp al-Hol came after a sudden, uncoordinated withdrawal by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which had triggered mass escapes and renewed security concerns.



Located near the Iraqi border, the camp had held relatives of suspected Islamic State (IS) fighters alongside displaced civilians.



Syrian authorities moved to enter the camp in mid-January after expanding their security presence in the northeast following a series of agreements with the SDF.



In a press conference on Wednesday, Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddin al-Baba said Syrian army units were preparing to enter the camp when SDF forces withdrew hours earlier, without prior notification to Damascus.