CENTCOM commander visits NE Syria, highlights decline in Hawl Camp population
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Adm. Brad Cooper, Commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), said on Friday that the population in Hawl and Roj camps has declined “thanks to great strides made by our partners.”
This came during a visit Cooper paid to Northeast Syria early in September where he met with U.S. service members and inspected Hawl Camp.
“Thanks to great strides made by our partners, the combined population at al-Hol and al-Roj displaced persons camps has fallen below 30,000 for the first time,” Adm. Cooper said during the visit.
He stressed that repatriation of camp residents plays a vital role in countering extremist influence, particularly among women and children.
“Repatriation reduces opportunities for extremist influence, especially among vulnerable women and children,” he noted.
The U.S. has repeatedly urged countries to repatriate their nationals from Hawl and Roj camps, warning that the facilities remain breeding grounds for extremist ideologies if left unaddressed.