Large-scale security campaign in Al-Hawl camp | Dozens of people arrested, amid communications blackout in the camp

SOHR activists say that the large-security campaign continues in the “Al-Hawl mini-state”, located in the south-eastern countryside of al-Hasaka, for the second day in a row by joint forces comprising over 5,000 fighters of Syria Democratic Forces, People’s Protection Units (YPG), Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), Internal Security Forces (Asayish) and Counter-Terrorism Special Units (H.A.T) in order to reduce the growing security chaos in the camp, including murders and assassinations carried out by ISIS cells.

Meanwhile, the joint forces continue storming tents, conducting search campaigns and detening people for interrogation. According to Syrian Observatory sources, more than 30 people, including women, were arrested in the first day of the campaign.

Syrian Observatory sources added that the forces involved in the operation are also taking the people’s fingerprints in the camp and searching the tents using metal, amid a continuous curfew in the camp and communications blackout.

Yesterday, reliable sources informed SOHR that joint forces comprising over 5,000 fighters of Syria Democratic Forces, People’s Protection Units (YPG), Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), Internal Security Forces (Asayish) and Counter-Terrorism Special Units (H.A.T) unleashed a large-scale security operation this dawn in Al-Hawl camp in the far eastern region of Al-Hasakah countryside, targeting ISIS cells and affiliates who have created considerable security chaos and committed several murders and assassinations in the camp.

According to SOHR sources, internet network and radio broadcasting have been interrupted in the camp, as the security campaign is supposed to cover all sectors of the camp which hosts nearly 60,000 people, including Iraqi refugee and Syrian displaced people.

It is worth noting that murders have noticeably escalated in Al-Hawl camp in 2021, as SOHR activists documented 40 murders in the camp since early 2021 as follows: 13 murders in January, ten in February and 17 murders in March. However, 33 murders were documented in 2020 in Al-Hawl camp.

According to SOHR statistics, these murders have left 41 people dead and the breakdown of fatalities in 2021 was as follows:

• 30 Iraqi refugees, including two children and five women.

• Nine Syrian people, including a child and three women, the head of the “Syrian Council” in the camp, and two members of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish).

• A gunman of a cell responsible for assassinations and murders in the camp, who was killed when he blew himself up with a grenade just after he had been caught by an Asayish patrol which was pursuing him.