SDF uncovers outcome of ISIS attack on Syria’s Hasakah prison
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Monday, the General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) uncovered the toll of casualties of ISIS attack on al-Sina’a prison in Hasakah city, northeast Syria, in a press conference.
“374 ISIS militants, who participated in the attack on the prison, were killed in the clashes,” said Newroz Ahmad, a member of SDF General Command.
“223 of ISIS prisoners are still missing, and they are likely among the killed. Their identities are being checked,” Ahmad added.
Furthermore, Ahmad pointed out that 121 people lost their lives in the clashes, including 77 employees and workers of the prison, 40 SDF members and 4 civilians.
Talking about the details of the attack, Ahmad indicated that a car bomb was exploded at the main gate of the prison. It was then followed by a three-pronged attack, and a car loaded with weapons and ammunition was entered into the prison, in an effort to control the prison. That attack came in tandem with another attack inside the prison on the workers and employees.
“According to the seized documents and the confessions of the prison attackers, who were arrested, the attack was part of a large-scale attack that had been prepared for a long time with the goal of reviving the terrorist organization,” Ahmad said in the statement.
She explained if ISIS had succeeded in the attack, their plan would have been to continue attacking the neighborhoods of Guweiran and al-Zohour plus some Autonomous Administration institutions. After that they would have attacked other neighborhoods in Hasakah at the same time of attacking on the Hawl, Shaddadi and Deir ez-Zor areas.
Some of the attackers on the prison came from the areas of Sere Kaniye and Tel Abyad, which are under the control of the Turkish forces, and others from Iraq. The conspiracy was run from outside the Syrian borders, according to the female commander.
There were tunnels dug by ISIS sleeper cells in some homes in the neighborhoods of Guweiran and al-Zohour in order to support the attack, she noted.
Newroz Ahmad praised the sacrifices of the prison guards and the fighters who thwarted the grand conspiracy, and the result was the arrest of all the escaped detainees who were transferred to other prisons.
The commander of the SDF, Newroz Ahmad, held Turkey responsible for the continued survival of ISIS.
ISIS is taking advantage of the Turkish attacks on the areas of northeast Syria to regroup its ranks. The areas run by Turkey in northeast Syria have become the safest and most secure for ISIS, Ahmad mentioned.
Ahmad warned that the recent attack has proven the threat of ISIS to the region and the world, and this shows the great need to provide support to the SDF and the Autonomous Administration militarily, politically and economically to uproot the extremist organization.
Ahmad called for finding radical solutions to the presence of families of ISIS militants in Hawl Camp, and the need to speed up the trial of ISIS members by establishing an international court.
The SDF commander stressed that the combing operations are still continuing, and they have extended to other areas in Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa in search of ISIS cells.