QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Saturday, Jiyan Henan, an administrator in the Hawl Camp, said the camp witnesses a state of relative calm after an escape attempt by a group of families of the Islamic States (ISIS) was thwarted by Internal Security Forces of North and East (Asayish).
In a statement made to North Press, Henan said, “The camp witnessed an activity by ISIS cells following the Turkish air raids against pickets in charge of the camp’s security.”
On Friday, security forces aborted an escape from the camp by a group of ISIS women and minors from the camp’s Foreigner Sector after crossing the fence encircling the camp, a military source told North Press.
The source noted while some were arrested others returned to the camp to avert arrest.
The same source denied that clashes took place between the security forces and the group which sought to escape the camp as a number of media outlets claimed.
On Wednesday, a Turkish warplane hit three positions on the outskirt of Hawl Camp in which eight SDF-linked members, responsible for watching and guarding the camp, were killed.
The Turkish strike created a state of disorder in the camp as six people sought to escape but they were caught by security personnel of the camp.
The administrator said a number of local and international NGOs still suspending their missions in the camp.
Henan warned that “the situation could become worse in case of a mass escape from the camp. Security forces will not be able to contain the situation then.”
The Hawl Camp, some 45 km distance to the east of the city of Hasakah, is home to 56.561 people with Iraqi refugees making the vast majority of the camp’s residents. It also houses thousands of Syrian IDPs, mostly from areas in west of the Euphrates which are now under Syrian government forces and pro-Iran militias, as well as ISIS families of foreign nationalities.
With murders and kidnappings taking place regularly, the camp is described as the most dangerous world-wide. Given the enormous number of ISIS families there, the camp is like a ticking bomb that could explode at any moment.
On the background of Turkish aerial campaign that targeted a post in charge of protecting the camp, more than 15 local and international NGOs suspended their mission in the camp on Thursday.
Months ago, ISIS sleeper cells sought to attack the camp, but the attempt fell to the ground thanks to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Asayish.
Locals voice their concerns over any probable camp escape by families and children of ISIS.
During former security operations, the SDF found trenches dug under tents used by ISIS sleeper cells to be used as hideouts, training places, sharia law tribunals, torture and murder in the camp.
Weapons, ammunitions, bombs, communication devices and bullets were seized all underground.
The probability of a Turkish invasion of northeast Syria rises locals’ fears over potential dangers implied in the camp.
The SDF has suspended its operations against ISIS citing its preoccupation with the recent Turkish bombardment and shelling against the region.