Alpha News

Alarm in Northeast Syria Following ISIS Member Release

Published January 23, 2026, 21:10

An alarm has been raised in northeast Syria following the release of ISIS members from prisons previously controlled by Kurdish forces. The United States has begun transferring prisoners, including high-ranking officials of the organization, to Iraq, at the request of the Iraqi Prime Minister. Among the first 150 transferred are Europeans, Asians, Arabs, and Iraqis. The European Union has expressed concerns about potential escapes, while the situation at the al-Hol camp, where relatives of jihadists live, is described as unstable. The UN has been unable to enter the camp. The transfers involve a total of 7,000 prisoners.