The Syrian Democratic Forces launched one of the most comprehensive counter-terrorism operations since ISIS’ territorial Caliphate came to an end in 2019 during Operation “Enduring Security.”
This latest operation has now concluded its second and final phase, with the help of the US-led International Coalition to Defeat ISIS. The first phase involved thousands of SDF personnel conducting combing operations through Al-Hawl city and its surrounding country-side, which lead to the capture of 47 ISIS members. Several weapons caches, consisting of significant quantities of weapons, ammunition, and military logistical supplies were also discovered and seized.
During the second phase, thousands of SDF troops entered al-Hawl camp. On the third day of the operation, hidden weapons were discovered in several tunnels and 16 additional ISIS members were captured. Several of these men had attempted to escape upon discovery, but were detained.
On the fourth day, ten more ISIS members were discovered and captured, along with the body of a woman that had been kidnapped and killed by ISIS religious police, which operate clandestinely inside the camp. Several more tunnels concealing weapons caches and hidden ISIS child soldiers were discovered.
Seven more ISIS fighters were captured on the fifth day of the operation following an SDF raid on one of their hideouts inside the camp. These individuals had been involved in extortion of the camp’s population to fund the organization’s activities, as well as attempts to smuggle ISIS families out of the camp.
The operation concluded after seven days. The SDF has suffered no casualties and encountered no major resistance, capturing 79 IS members over the course of the entire operation, which had been postponed several times due to Turkish attacks. While repatriations from the camp have been taking place semi-consistently, the population of the camp remains in the tens of thousands. With no concrete global plan in place for the future of these individuals, and limited support from the international community, a solution for how to deal with what has come to be known as one of the most dangerous places on the globe remains far off.