US-led Coalition enters Syria's Al-Aqtan prison following clashes
Shafaq News– Damascus
On Monday, a patrol from the US-led Coalition arrived at Raqqa’s Al-Aqtan prison in northeastern Syria, which holds hundreds of ISIS members, following clashes between prison guards from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syrian government-affiliated forces that attempted to seize control of the facility, Shafaq News correspondent reported.
According to our correspondent, the delegation entered Al-Aqtan prison to hold talks with the prison administration on arranging the safe withdrawal of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) units tasked with guarding the facility. The discussions focused on securing the prison in coordination with the Syrian government following any SDF withdrawal. Coalition warplanes also flew over the site and released warning flares in an effort to halt the clashes.
Earlier today, fighting erupted in the area surrounding the prison between armed residents, Syrian government forces, and security personnel affiliated with the SDF. The group said in a statement that it continues to coordinate with the Global Coalition to transfer ISIS detainees held at Al-Aqtan Prison to secure locations, noting that the Coalition, despite repeated assurances, has yet to take any practical steps.
Statement to the Public Regarding the Recent Developments at “Al-Aqtan” Prison in RaqqaFor the past three days, our forces have been coordinating with the International Coalition to transfer ISIS detainees held at “Al-Aqtan” Prison in the city of Raqqa to safe locations.…
— Syrian Democratic Forces (@SDF_Syria) January 19, 2026
Meanwhile, the Syrian Army’s Operations Directorate said via state media outlet SANA that government forces have taken control of the town of Al-Shaddadi and its prison in southern Hasakah, adding that authorities imposed a full curfew and launched security operations to secure the area and pursue ISIS members who fled the facility.
هيئة العمليات في الجيش العربي السوري لـ سانا: الجيش يسيطر على مدينة الشدادي وسجنها جنوب الحسكة، ويبدأ فوراً عمليات تأمين المنطقة واعتقال عناصر داعش الفارين، الذين أطلقت قسد سراحهم.#الجيش_العربي_السوري#الحسكة pic.twitter.com/XE6zW8tYaY
— الوكالة العربية السورية للأنباء - سانا (@Sana__gov) January 19, 2026
مشاهد من داخل مدينة الشدادي بعد سيطرة الجيش العربي السوري عليها وعلى سجنها، وبدء عمليات التأمين وتمشيط المنطقة بحثاً عن سجناء تنظيم داعش الذين أطلقت قسد سراحهم.#الجيش_العربي_السوري #الحسكة pic.twitter.com/eQTYiwofdq
— الوكالة العربية السورية للأنباء - سانا (@Sana__gov) January 19, 2026
The Syrian government, in a statement issued earlier, dismissed a previous warning by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) about the security risks posed by ISIS detainees, describing it as “political exploitation of the terrorism file and a form of security pressure and blackmail.” It also pledged that authorities would secure all detention facilities in line with international standards and prevent any detainees from escaping or returning to the battlefield.
#عاجل | بيان للحكومة السورية: نرفض بشكل حازم محاولات الابتزاز الأمني في ملف الإرهاب📌ما ورد في بيان الإدارة الذاتية من تحذيرات بشأن سجون داعش توظيف سياسي لورقة الإرهاب📌نتعهد بتأمين كل مراكز الاحتجاز وفق المعايير الدولية وضمان عدم فرار أي من عناصر تنظيم داعش📌نؤكد جاهزيتنا… pic.twitter.com/dUpjJdDvfC
— تلفزيون سوريا (@syr_television) January 19, 2026
In a related development, an official from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), Sheikmos Ahmed, co-chair of the Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees, said that Internal Security Forces (Asayish) thwarted an attempted escape by families linked to ISIS members from Al-Hol Camp. He added that similar security incidents were recorded recently amid the escalating situation, highlighting continued concerns over stability at camps and detention sites.
A Syrian source told Shafaq News yesterday that Al-Hol camp, located in Hasakah province near the Iraqi border, houses around 17,000 people from dozens of countries, including about 3,000 Iraqi nationals. Against this backdrop, Iraqi Armed Forces spokesperson Sabah Al-Numan indicated that the Iraq–Syria border remains fully secured by the Border Forces Command, stressing that managing border security with neighboring countries, particularly Syria, remains a top priority for the Iraqi government.
Read more: Syria’s calm: An end to threat or a start of a complex security phase for Iraq?
On January 18, Syria’s transitional president, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, signed an agreement with the SDF under which Syrian state institutions will assume administrative authority over Hasakah, Deir Ez-Zor, and Raqqa provinces. The deal followed armed clashes between Syrian government forces and the SDF, particularly around areas in Raqqa province, which hosts US and Global Coalition forces and contains camps and detention facilities holding ISIS members.
