- 175 #ISIS dead, 450 recaptured & dozens, possibly 100s more escaped & on the loose.
- 27 #SDF dead & 25 held hostage;
- 45,000 civilians displaced.
This was #ISIS's biggest attack in #Syria & #Iraq for 3yrs
- 27 #SDF dead & 25 held hostage;
- 45,000 civilians displaced.
This was #ISIS's biggest attack in #Syria & #Iraq for 3yrs
https://twitter.com/Charles_Lister/status/1485671726205833218
After 5 days of fighting, a mammoth force -- 10,000 #SDF fighters + U.S. & UK special forces + U.S. air support -- has fought back, but still, 25% of al-Sina Prison remains in #ISIS hands & #ISIS cells continue to fight in x2 parallel neighborhoods.
Q -- how did 200 #ISIS fighters (many wearing suicide belts) & x2 car bombs get past ~12 #SDF checkpoints, into a heavily fortified city, home to the largest #ISIS detainee facility in the world?
It's almost certain now that #ISIS infiltrated/bribed #SDF-linked security forces.
It's almost certain now that #ISIS infiltrated/bribed #SDF-linked security forces.
Footage from inside the prison suggests #ISIS prisoners likely knew about the attack in advance -- it's an open secret that cell phone access (often via bribed #SDF guards) is commonplace inside al-Sina Prison.
A coalition investigation should look squarely into all of this.
A coalition investigation should look squarely into all of this.
The #SDF has been accusing #Turkey of complicity, yet:
- "The #SDF missed entirely a force of 200 jihadists & 2 car bombs entering a heavily guarded city under its control, so its claims to know precisely where they came from should be treated with a mightily big grain of salt."
- "The #SDF missed entirely a force of 200 jihadists & 2 car bombs entering a heavily guarded city under its control, so its claims to know precisely where they came from should be treated with a mightily big grain of salt."
It's been clear for yrs that holding 1,000s of #ISIS fighters in makeshift prisons (al-Sina is a former school complex, surrounded by walls) was a ticking time bomb -- and yet the detainee file "hasn't moved an inch" since 2014.
Not to mention the women/kids in internment camps.
Not to mention the women/kids in internment camps.
Ultimately however, the biggest takeaway is that #ISIS has -- as some of us have warned -- been slowly & methodically rebuilding itself since 2019.
Rolling back territory was the easy part -- COIN + CT requires deeper resources, not troop/funding cuts & more pressure on #SDF.
Rolling back territory was the easy part -- COIN + CT requires deeper resources, not troop/funding cuts & more pressure on #SDF.
A new #ISIS Amaq release shows fighters inside al-Sina Prison's northern wing, as of today, amid *heavy* fighting.
Worth asking the Q at this point -- whenever this is resolved, is the facility still going to be a viable prison for the ~1,000s of #ISIS detainees? If not, where?
Worth asking the Q at this point -- whenever this is resolved, is the facility still going to be a viable prison for the ~1,000s of #ISIS detainees? If not, where?
I spoke with @ritula & @R4WorldTonight this evening about #ISIS's assault on the al-Sina Prison in #Hasakeh & the 5-day battle that's followed -- a clear indicator of #ISIS's recovery & strategic intent in #Syria/#Iraq.
From 31:30:
bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0…
From 31:30:
bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0…
Beyond images of Bradley’s from previous days, more of an indication here of U.S. SOF involvement in the #SDF operation to retake al-Sina Prison & nearby streets/buildings from #ISIS:
https://twitter.com/mhjournalist/status/1485942351902162950
We're now entering Day 6 of fighting, since #ISIS's assault on al-Sina Prison in NE #Syria.
Per the #SDF, ~20% of the prison remains in #ISIS control amid a slow-grinding stand-off in the northern wing.
100s remain in that 20% -- #ISIS fighters, underage detainees & hostages.
Per the #SDF, ~20% of the prison remains in #ISIS control amid a slow-grinding stand-off in the northern wing.
100s remain in that 20% -- #ISIS fighters, underage detainees & hostages.
The situation in the #ISIS-held "20%" of the prison is deteriorating fast -- *very* grisly video has emerged via #ISIS fighters, showing corpses & many wounded/dying men & unarmed boys.
That footage is being widely shared across #ISIS's channels -- eerily reminiscent of Baghouz.
That footage is being widely shared across #ISIS's channels -- eerily reminiscent of Baghouz.
Meanwhile, #ISIS fighters remain active in x2 parallel neighborhoods (al-Ghweiran & al-Zuhour), periodically engaging the #SDF.
We now also know that #ISIS escapees have fanned out -- dispersing along the river SW of Hasakeh & to Jabal Abdulaziz, swelling long-term capabilities.
We now also know that #ISIS escapees have fanned out -- dispersing along the river SW of Hasakeh & to Jabal Abdulaziz, swelling long-term capabilities.
BREAKING -- #SDF claim to have fully secured al-Sina Prison, after nearly 7 days of fighting.
Huge #ISIS surrender just now, as the northern wing (a) ran out of ammunition & (b) buckled after no food for a week.
Huge #ISIS surrender just now, as the northern wing (a) ran out of ammunition & (b) buckled after no food for a week.
The #SDF & @CJTFOIR now face an extraordinary challenge -- of re-housing & re-securing 1,000s of #ISIS prisoners.
Al-Sina Prison has sustained heavy damage & it's unclear how much of its "extension" is ready to replace the original facility.
Big short-term security risks now.
Al-Sina Prison has sustained heavy damage & it's unclear how much of its "extension" is ready to replace the original facility.
Big short-term security risks now.
@CJTFOIR According to the #SDF, 'approximately' 250 #ISIS fighters have been killed in/around al-Sina Prison over the last 6 days -- but around 200 were involved in the initial attack.
So if there's a headcount done of previous/current detainees, we'll soon know how many got away alive.
So if there's a headcount done of previous/current detainees, we'll soon know how many got away alive.
@CJTFOIR Perhaps "the safety of the children" would have been better achieved had they not been placed in a makeshift prison, alongside 1,000s of battle-hardened #ISIS jihadists, *by the #SDF,* which previously judged them to be security risks, for the past 3-4yrs??
Let's be honest here.
Let's be honest here.
https://twitter.com/jseldin/status/1486339228959129603
@CJTFOIR There's still a lot we don't know about al-Sina Prison numbers.
The #SDF's numbers have varied in recent days, from a pre-attack population of 3,000-5,000.
"100s" surrendered today & before that, about 1,000 more, so did some never escape?
If not, then a lot escaped for good.
The #SDF's numbers have varied in recent days, from a pre-attack population of 3,000-5,000.
"100s" surrendered today & before that, about 1,000 more, so did some never escape?
If not, then a lot escaped for good.
@CJTFOIR Good @CJTFOIR statement:
- This is a global problem requiring a multinational, long-term solution;
- Makeshift prisons are a breeding ground for #ISIS;
- A thorough investigation is needed into how this attack was allowed to happen.
- This is a global problem requiring a multinational, long-term solution;
- Makeshift prisons are a breeding ground for #ISIS;
- A thorough investigation is needed into how this attack was allowed to happen.
https://twitter.com/CJTFOIR/status/1486368792926208005
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
