The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Internal Security Forces, and the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) have concluded the third phase of the “Humanitarian and Security” operation in Al-Hol camp.
Phase 3 of the “Humanitarian and Security” operation in Al-Hol camp commenced amidst increased activity of dormant cells of the terrorist organization ISIS, engaging in killings, arrests, torture, rape of women, murder, and planning of terrorist operations inside and outside the camp. The Syrian Democratic Forces, the Internal Security Forces, and the Women’s Protection Units, supported by the international coalition, conducted a sweep operation inside the camp at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 27th, 2024, targeting members of these cells.
This operation served as a continuation of the first and second operations carried out in the previous year, specifically targeting the third sector housing immigrant and Iraqi ISIS women, which includes women of various nationalities and is considered the most dangerous section within the camp.
At the beginning of the operation, the search area was cordoned off to take precautionary measures and security procedures, including registering personal data of women from ISIS families within the “Migrants Women’s Area,” in addition to fingerprinting and iris scanning to verify identities and search for wanted individuals from ISIS sleeper cells. On the first day of the operation, ISIS women, indoctrinating their children into extremist ideologies, hurled stones at the search forces and made threatening gestures of murder and slaughter to hinder our forces from carrying out their tasks effectively. They aimed to conceal hideouts and secret trenches within the tents, avoiding the discovery of ammunition, torture tools, sharp objects, and prohibited items indicating extremist ideologies. Additionally, they targeted civilian journalists with stones to prevent documentation of events during the camp coverage.
Nevertheless, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Internal Security Forces, and Women’s Protection Units continued their mission successfully, exerting significant efforts to eliminate these terrorist cells. During the ongoing operation, two children aged between 14 and 15 were found hiding in a tunnel, and a key ISIS figure responsible for spreading extremist ideologies within the camp, nicknamed “Abu Abdul Hameed,” was apprehended. He had connections with ISIS leaders outside the camp. Furthermore, the campaign forces discovered numerous secret trenches within the tents, along with Kalashnikov rifles, ammunition, explosives, mines, batteries for terrorist operations inside and outside the camp, hand grenades, military bags, belts, and white weapons. They also found ISIS and Turkish flags, books teaching extremist ideologies, and carefully hidden phones.
Additionally, the Women’s Protection Units conducted a special operation to liberate the Yazidi woman, Kovan Eido Khorto, from Haridan village, who was kidnapped by ISIS in 2014 during their brutal massacre in Shingal.
On February 6, the Internal Security Forces, Women’s Protection Units, and Syrian Democratic Forces successfully completed their mission in pursuing terrorist cells and confiscating prohibited materials inside the camp, reaffirming their commitment to counterterrorism efforts wherever necessary
It is worth mentioning that ISIS terrorist cells are active concurrently with the brutal attacks by the Turkish occupation forces in northern and eastern Syria, providing them with suitable opportunities and fertile ground for their activities, posing a significant threat to the region’s security. However, the Syrian Democratic Forces, Women’s Protection Units, and Internal Security Forces remain vigilant day and night to maintain security and stability in the region, never hesitating to combat terrorism at all times.
According to the statement by the Internal Security Forces, the results of the third phase of the “Humanitarian and Security” operation inside the al-Hol camp are as follows:
Number of captured terrorist elements and collaborators: 85 mercenaries.
Confiscated weapons: 8 Kalashnikov rifles, 4 mines, 2 explosive belts, 7 hand grenades, 25 detonators, 1 RPG shell, ammunition, military supplies, and narcotics.
Destruction of 5 tunnels.
YPJ Media Center
6/2/2024
