Kurdish forces in north-east Syria have begun a security operation inside al-Hawl detention camp in an attempt to eliminate Isis sleeper cells that have become increasingly active over the last few months. However, a spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led military coalition against Isis, said it was taking place with their support. The Hawl camp houses around 70,000 people, mostly women and children, many of whom remain Isis supporters, despite the territorial defeat of the terror group by a coalition of western and Kurdish forces in 2019. Although the SDF controls access to and from Hawl, Kurdish forces admit they have had little control inside its perimeter. The women in the camp were largely picked up by Kurdish forces after the fall of Baghuz, the last Isis stronghold, in 2019.

Source: The Guardian March 28, 2021 17:41 UTC