ISIS fighters break free from Syrian jail amid chaotic government handover

Fox News - WorldCenter-RightEN 2 min read 100% complete by Emma Bussey,Jennifer GriffinJanuary 20, 2026 at 04:10 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Amid a chaotic handover of control between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian government in eastern Syria on Monday, ISIS fighters escaped from Al-Shaddadi prison in Hasakah province. The escape occurred after a ceasefire was brokered following days of fighting, stemming from Damascus' accusations that the SDF was delaying security handovers. Under an integration agreement, the SDF agreed to withdraw from Arab-majority provinces and transfer responsibility for ISIS detainees to the Syrian government. While the U.S. had worked with the SDF to relocate high-risk foreign fighters, local residents reportedly helped roughly 200 lower-level ISIS detainees escape as SDF guards abandoned the prison. Syrian forces have since imposed a curfew and launched security operations to recapture any remaining escapees, and the prison is now under Syrian government control.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Turkey 35% Ahmed al-Sharaa 40% Shaddadi ×250% Syrian Army 50% Hasakah province 60% United States ×570% Al-Shaddadi prison ×580% Syria ×680% Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) ×785% Islamic State group (ISIS) ×890%

Keywords

isis fighters 100% prison escape 90% syrian democratic forces 80% syrian government 80% security handover 70% al-shaddadi prison 70% isis detainees 60% ceasefire 60% u.s. military 50% syria 40%