Syria’s Kurdish Security Forces Concludes Counterterrorism Operation at Roj Camp, Arrests 16 ISIS Affiliates

By Kardo Roj

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Internal Security Forces (Asayish) in northeast Syria announced on Monday the completion of a three-day counterterrorism operation in Roj Camp, near Qamishli, resulting in the arrest of 16 individuals affiliated with Islamic State (ISIS) sleeper cells.

The operation, which began on April 5, was spearheaded by the Women’s Internal Security Forces and Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), in response to intelligence reports indicating renewed extremist activity within the camp. The initiative reflects growing security concerns over attempts by ISIS remnants to regroup and exploit fragile conditions inside displacement camps.

In a statement released by Asayish, the campaign was described as a “preemptive, intelligence-based operation,” launched to disrupt ISIS cells allegedly planning recruitment, communication with external operatives, and escape attempts.

Security forces conducted nighttime raids, thoroughly searched all sectors of the camp, and apprehended 16 individuals accused of maintaining contact with external ISIS networks. The detainees reportedly played key roles in attempted family smuggling operations and disseminating extremist ideologies, particularly targeting children.

“Asayish forces uncovered advanced communication equipment used to coordinate with outside contacts, as well as a secret tunnel dug beneath the camp’s outer fence, intended to facilitate clandestine movement,” the statement read.

The discovery underscores the persistent threat posed by radicalized individuals inside displacement camps, despite years of anti-ISIS operations carried out across the region by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and their security affiliates.

Roj Camp, along with the larger al-Hol Camp, houses thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs), many of whom are women and children linked to suspected ISIS fighters. While the AANES has appealed to the international community to repatriate foreign nationals and assist in camp management, most foreign governments have been slow to respond.

The AANES, supported by the SDF and international partners, has repeatedly warned that conditions in these camps, if left unaddressed, could foster the resurgence of extremist ideologies. These fears are compounded by recent upticks in violent incidents and security breaches attributed to organized ISIS elements.

Experts have noted that despite the territorial defeat of ISIS in 2019, the group has retained the capacity to conduct insurgency-style operations, especially in underserved or destabilized areas. Camps like Roj continue to be high-risk zones where ideological influence and covert operations intersect.

The recent sweep demonstrates a continued commitment by Asayish and affiliated forces to counterterrorism operations, particularly in environments vulnerable to exploitation by extremist actors. By emphasizing precision, intelligence coordination, and a gender-inclusive security strategy, the operation reflects broader regional efforts to foster stability and prevent radicalization.

The involvement of the YPJ and Women’s Asayish Units also highlights the unique role of women in the AANES’s security apparatus—a point often emphasized in international reporting on governance and civil society in northeast Syria.

Asayish concluded its statement by affirming that it had thwarted attempts to indoctrinate children within the camp. “Our investigation revealed organized efforts to instill extremist ideologies among minors, but these efforts have been neutralized,” the statement read.