A prison break involving ISIL fighters sparked clashes between Syrian Army forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria on Monday, prompting authorities to impose a citywide curfew.
The Syrian Army reported that some 120 ISIL detainees escaped from al-Shaddadi’s prison during fighting with SDF forces. The clashes came a day after a ceasefire agreement between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF leader Mazloum Kobani.
Authorities swiftly imposed a curfew across al-Shaddadi to secure the city and locate the escaped militants.
The Syrian Army claimed that the SDF deliberately freed the ISIL fighters, while the Kurdish-led force said it lost control of the prison after an army attack — a claim the military has denied.
The SDF reported nine casualties among its members and 20 wounded in the fighting around al-Aqtan prison, which remains a focal point of security operations.
Partial recapture of escaped detainees
Syria’s Interior Ministry confirmed that 81 of the escaped 120 ISIL prisoners have been recaptured, according to Reuters. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining fugitives.
The Syrian Army’s Operations Authority announced that control of al-Aqtan prison and other security facilities in the city will now fall under the Ministry of Interior.
Context
The incident occurred shortly after Damascus and the SDF signed a truce over the weekend, which included the Kurdish-led force agreeing to withdraw from Raqqa and Deir Az Zor — areas previously under their control.
The province of Hasakah, where al-Shaddadi is located, largely remains under SDF influence, making security coordination in the area complex.
Syrian President al-Sharaa and U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized the need to protect Kurdish rights while preserving Syria’s territorial unity. The U.S.-led coalition, formed to fight ISIL, did not intervene during the prison clashes despite calls from the SDF.
