BREAKING -- reports of an attack on the al-Sina prison in al-Hasakeh, NE #Syria, possibly involving an IED/VBIED.
The prison holds 5,000 #ISIS militants, mostly foreign fighters.
Local sources say prisoners conducted some form of incident in coordination with the bombing.
The prison holds 5,000 #ISIS militants, mostly foreign fighters.
Local sources say prisoners conducted some form of incident in coordination with the bombing.
An #ISIS plot to attack al-Sina Prison was foiled in November 2021 -- involving an SVBIED & assault team equipped with a pick-up truck of rifles to provide to #ISIS prisoners inside.
Very concerning to see prisons coming under #ISIS's attention again, in January 2022.
Very concerning to see prisons coming under #ISIS's attention again, in January 2022.
This video reportedly shows the aftermath of a suspected car bomb outside al-Sina Prison's exterior walls:
Some sources say ~20 #ISIS detainees escaped. U.S. aircraft now overhead.
https://twitter.com/Rojava_Media/status/1484233630306258947
Some sources say ~20 #ISIS detainees escaped. U.S. aircraft now overhead.
NEW - the #SDF claim to have “thwarted” the #ISIS attack on the prison, though the VBIED did detonate & clashes reached the prison perimeter & caused casualties.
Unclear if initial reports of prisoner escape were accurate or leaked amid chaos.
Unclear if initial reports of prisoner escape were accurate or leaked amid chaos.
https://twitter.com/farhad_shami/status/1484250267709280268
It's becoming increasingly clear that the #SDF's reporting of last night's #ISIS assault on al-Sina Prison was questionable, at best.
We now know 18 #SDF were killed in the attack & a *large* number of #ISIS militants escaped -- 89 have been captured since & 5 killed.
We now know 18 #SDF were killed in the attack & a *large* number of #ISIS militants escaped -- 89 have been captured since & 5 killed.
#ISIS prisoners continued to riot on/off thru the night & into today, leading to more violence & *possibly* more escapes.
One #SDF image of a killed #ISIS 'escapee' this AM appears to show a man/corpse clutching a walking stick.
#ISIS-linked sources claim 3 "leaders" are out.
One #SDF image of a killed #ISIS 'escapee' this AM appears to show a man/corpse clutching a walking stick.
#ISIS-linked sources claim 3 "leaders" are out.
Nearly 24hrs after #ISIS's attack on al-Sina prison began, the #SDF is still engaged in clashes in #Hasakeh's Ghweiran area.
Per #SDF, 89 #ISIS escapees have been caught -- but judging by events, it wouldn't surprise me if 100s had escaped overnight.
Area being evacuated now.
Per #SDF, 89 #ISIS escapees have been caught -- but judging by events, it wouldn't surprise me if 100s had escaped overnight.
Area being evacuated now.
Meanwhile, across the border in #Iraq, 11 Iraqi soldiers were killed in a dawn #ISIS assault on a military base in #Diyala -- yet another reminder that the #ISIS challenge is far, far from over.
Local sources in #Hasakeh say US helicopters have fired on #ISIS militants in the Ghweiran area within the last hour -- #SDF forces remain engaged in heavy fighting too.
Increasingly clear that initial #SDF reporting was very flawed -- this was *far* from a "thwarted" attack.
Increasingly clear that initial #SDF reporting was very flawed -- this was *far* from a "thwarted" attack.
This #ISIS attack on al-Sina prison is our clearest warning yet of the consequences of leaving 1,000s of jihadists in makeshift prisons in NE #Syria.
While many governments have begun a slow process of assessing returns of women/kids, the male prisoner issue remains 100% stuck.
While many governments have begun a slow process of assessing returns of women/kids, the male prisoner issue remains 100% stuck.
For 2+yrs, most Western governments refused to repatriate women/kids -- until relatively recently.
BUT now the obstacle has changed (according to 6 European officials leading on this issue that I've spoken to) -- the #SDF is now throwing obstacles into the repatriation process.
BUT now the obstacle has changed (according to 6 European officials leading on this issue that I've spoken to) -- the #SDF is now throwing obstacles into the repatriation process.
Why would the #SDF slow down (not block) EU govt's newly open position to assessing repatriation of women/kids?
The officials I've spoken to had the same answer: 'the moment women/kids cease to be a policy issue, EU govt's will have less of an incentive to invest in NE #Syria.
The officials I've spoken to had the same answer: 'the moment women/kids cease to be a policy issue, EU govt's will have less of an incentive to invest in NE #Syria.
But none of that touches upon the fact that 10,000+ battle-hardened #ISIS male fighters remain in poorly-managed, minimally-resourced prison facilities in NE #Syria.
As many of us have said for years now -- it's a ticking time bomb with no visible solution.
As many of us have said for years now -- it's a ticking time bomb with no visible solution.
The fighting ongoing in #Hasakeh right now is the heaviest I've seen since 2019 -- constant heavy weapons fire & reported strikes by helicopters & drones.
One battle, involving #ISIS holed up in a multi-storey building, brought a massive U.S. airstrike:
One battle, involving #ISIS holed up in a multi-storey building, brought a massive U.S. airstrike:
The U.S. airstrike (video above) hit this targeted building & turned 25% of it into rubble.
Civilian evacuation of Ghweiran is ongoing -- 100s moved into the countryside today, to make space for intense fighting.
Civilian evacuation of Ghweiran is ongoing -- 100s moved into the countryside today, to make space for intense fighting.
In an interview 30mins ago on @alhurranews, #SDF spokesman @farhad_shami provided new details about the #ISIS attack on al-Sina prison in #Hasakeh:
- "80" #ISIS militants launched an assault overnight on the prison's east wing
- Prisoners inside launched a coordinated mutiny.
- "80" #ISIS militants launched an assault overnight on the prison's east wing
- Prisoners inside launched a coordinated mutiny.
@alhurranews @farhad_shami #pt: According to the #SDF spokesman:
- The entire northern wing of al-Sina prison is completely under #ISIS control -- he didn't know how many militants were in that zone of the facility.
- Fighting with #ISIS is also still ongoing in #Hasakeh city tonight (24hrs later).
- The entire northern wing of al-Sina prison is completely under #ISIS control -- he didn't know how many militants were in that zone of the facility.
- Fighting with #ISIS is also still ongoing in #Hasakeh city tonight (24hrs later).
@alhurranews @farhad_shami The @alhurranews interviewer then suggested the #ISIS attack represented an #SDF intelligence failure.
- @farhad_shami responded claiming that a "foreign power" had provided resources for the attack (he means #Turkey, which is of course, absurd).
- @farhad_shami responded claiming that a "foreign power" had provided resources for the attack (he means #Turkey, which is of course, absurd).
@alhurranews @farhad_shami Putting aside the politics, an 80-man + VBIED #ISIS assault in an urban environment fully controlled by the #SDF, targeting the biggest prison for #ISIS detainees is... a VERY big deal.
That's a massive & complex operation -- FAR bigger than anything we've seen since March 2019.
That's a massive & complex operation -- FAR bigger than anything we've seen since March 2019.
@alhurranews @farhad_shami NEW -- reports that #ISIS is engaged in a full assault on an #SDF prison (holding senior #ISIS commanders) near the Conoco facility in Deir ez Zour, amid several other attacks on #SDF positions in DZ (presumably intended to distract & stretch resources).
Marked escalation.
Marked escalation.
@alhurranews @farhad_shami Meanwhile, #ISIS & the #SDF remain engaged in clashes in #Hasakeh & U.S. Apache helicopters continue to fire on #ISIS positions in the city.
It's now been 30hrs since the initial attack on al-Sina prison & #ISIS also still control 25% of the prison (the north wing) itself.
It's now been 30hrs since the initial attack on al-Sina prison & #ISIS also still control 25% of the prison (the north wing) itself.
Clashes between the #SDF & #ISIS continue today, as #ISIS’s assault on al-Sina prison extends to nearly 48hrs.
#ISIS (& 100-1000s of prisoners) still controls the prison’s northern wing & dozens of militants continue to hold positions in the surrounding streets in #Hasakeh city.
#ISIS (& 100-1000s of prisoners) still controls the prison’s northern wing & dozens of militants continue to hold positions in the surrounding streets in #Hasakeh city.
48hrs ago, an #ISIS truck bomb detonated outside the al-Sina prison & ~80 #ISIS militants launched a multi-axis assault -- freeing 100s of prisoners.
48hrs later, 100+ dead, intense battles continue in #Hasakeh city & #ISIS controls ~30% of the prison.
48hrs later, 100+ dead, intense battles continue in #Hasakeh city & #ISIS controls ~30% of the prison.
While U.S. Apache helos have been engaged in supporting #SDF units on the ground, it appears the U.S. military has now deployed Bradley Fighting Vehicles into #Hasakeh, as the fighting enters a 3rd night.
U.S. SOF also allegedly advising behind frontlines, calling strikes etc.
U.S. SOF also allegedly advising behind frontlines, calling strikes etc.
I spoke to @alhurranews yesterday, alongside @jassim__press, about the significance of #ISIS's prison attack in #Hasakeh, #Syria.
It's the biggest #ISIS attack & most sustained fighting in ~3yrs -- in other words, it's a big deal.
It's the biggest #ISIS attack & most sustained fighting in ~3yrs -- in other words, it's a big deal.
@alhurranews @jassim__press I also spoke to @TheWorld's Carol Hill about #ISIS's attack on al-Sina prison in #Hasakeh -- covering the attack, its implications & what this means going forward, for the U.S.-led coalition, the #SDF, #ISIS & more.
From 15:29:
theworld.org/programs/world…
From 15:29:
theworld.org/programs/world…
@alhurranews @jassim__press @TheWorld Having watched the 1st #ISIS footage recorded at the time of the initial attack on al-Sina Prison, it's increasingly clear that this was a *serious* intelligence failure from @CJTFOIR & the #SDF -- dozens of armed #ISIS militants are seen storming the prison facility in #Hasakeh.
@alhurranews @jassim__press @TheWorld @CJTFOIR Per #SDF spokesman yesterday, 80+ #ISIS militants were involved in the initial attack -- just a stunning intel 'miss' in an urban environment.
Were #SDF prison guards bribed to facilitate the initial attack -- there's no way to know, but that was standard for #ISIS in 2012-2014.
Were #SDF prison guards bribed to facilitate the initial attack -- there's no way to know, but that was standard for #ISIS in 2012-2014.
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