SDF evacuates Al-Aqtan Prison as Syria takes control
Shafaq News– Damascus/ Raqqa
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) began evacuating Al-Aqtan Prison, which holds ISIS detainees, in the countryside of Raqqa on Friday, to handover it to the Syrian government after days of a government-imposed siege.
An SDF military source told Shafaq News that the evacuation, covering SDF fighters and security personnel, is being carried out under US supervision, with withdrawing forces redeploying to areas under SDF control in Kobani. The source said prison management will be transferred to Damascus under US-brokered understandings.
Syria’s army operations command said the move represents the first practical step in implementing the January 18 agreement, adding that the Interior Ministry will assume administration of the facility. The SDF, however, accused government forces of shelling Al-Aqtan Prison with heavy weapons while encircling the area with tanks and troops —an allegation denied by Damascus.
أعلنت هيئة العمليات في الجيش السوري، اليوم الجمعة، أن وحداتها بدأت بنقل عناصر قوات سوريا الديمقراطية "قسد" من سجن الأقطان ومحيطه بمحافظة الرقة إلى مدينة عين العرب في الشمال السوريhttps://t.co/Y40oZcBO1D
— تلفزيون سوريا (@syr_television) January 23, 2026
Al-Aqtan Prison has been a focal point of contention in recent days, with the SDF maintaining control as government forces pressed for its transfer, culminating in today’s evacuation. Earlier this week, the SDF said it had lost control of Al-Shaddadi prison in Hasakah, which holds thousands of ISIS members, following repeated attacks by “government-affiliated factions.”
The de-escalation comes amid sustained mediation efforts by Kurdish leaders. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani engaged regional and international actors to push for an immediate ceasefire, warning that continued clashes risked reigniting ISIS activity and triggering broader instability. Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani also held intensive contacts with US and regional officials, including US Envoy Tom Barrack, urging restraint, protection of civilians, and the preservation of dialogue channels between Damascus and the SDF.
On January 18, Syria’s transitional president, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, signed an agreement with the SDF under which Syrian state institutions would assume administrative authority over Hasakah, Deir Ez-Zor, and Raqqa provinces. The deal followed renewed clashes between Syrian government forces and the SDF, particularly around Raqqa —an area hosting US and Global Coalition forces and containing camps and detention facilities holding ISIS members.
