‘Chaos’ as Kurdish-Led Forces Stop Guarding Camp for ISIS Families

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Euan Ward and Alissa J. RubinJanuary 20, 2026 at 04:31 PM

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Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) abruptly withdrew from the Al Hol camp in northeastern Syria on Tuesday, which houses tens of thousands of family members of ISIS fighters. The SDF cited growing tensions with the Syrian government over control of the region, forcing them to redeploy troops. The Syrian government accused the SDF of abandoning their posts without coordination, leading to escapes and chaos within the camp, including families fleeing and buildings being burned. The Al Hol camp has been a long-standing concern for Western governments due to security risks and humanitarian issues related to the detainees. The withdrawal occurred after negotiations between the SDF and the Syrian government to end recent clashes broke down.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Qamishli 30% Jihan Hanan ×250% United States 60% Syrian Government ×370% Kurdish ×575% Syria ×380% Islamic State ×285% Syrian Democratic Forces (S.D.F.) ×890% Al Hol camp ×595%

Keywords

al hol camp 100% syrian democratic forces 90% isis families 80% kurdish-led forces 70% detention camp 70% syria 60% humanitarian crisis 50% conflict 50% radicalization 40%