200 ISIS Fighters Escape from Prison in Syria

Around 200 Islamic State (ISIS) fighters have escaped from Al-Shaddadi prison in Syria’s eastern Hasakah province. The escape took place amid chaos during the transfer of prison control from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to the Syrian government.

US officials and regional sources confirmed that the incident occurred on Monday. Earlier on Sunday, an integration agreement was signed under which the SDF agreed to withdraw from two Arab-majority provinces it had long controlled.

As part of the agreement, responsibility for prisons holding ISIS detainees was to be handed over to the Syrian government. However, security lapses during the transition allowed the prisoners to flee.

Following the incident, security has been tightened across the region, and operations are underway to recapture the escaped militants.