Syrian Forces Take Control of Prison Holding IS Detainees After Kurdish Fighters Evacuate

On January 23, 2026, Syrian government forces took control of the al-Aqtan prison located north of Raqqa, which has been holding detainees from the Islamic State (IS) group. This shift occurred after hundreds of Kurdish fighters, part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), evacuated the area under a recent agreement with the Syrian government.

The Syrian Interior Ministry has announced that they are now overseeing the facility, with plans to review the files of the detainees. Al-Aqtan prison is the second facility to come under government control after the SDF abandoned it. Earlier, on January 19, Syrian troops had entered Shaddadeh prison, leading to a situation where around 120 IS detainees managed to escape during the chaos, although most have since been recaptured.

This takeover coincides with rising tensions between the SDF and the Syrian government amid failed negotiations over a proposed merger of forces. A new version of the agreement was signed recently, leading to a temporary ceasefire and the strategic evacuation of SDF fighters from the besieged prison.

Eyewitness accounts and local reports indicate that there are about 2,000 detainees in al-Aqtan prison, though it remains unclear how many are directly linked to IS. The U.S. military has also begun transferring some of the 9,000 IS detainees from SDF-controlled facilities to Iraq.

The SDF has been a significant player in the fight against IS in Syria, previously managing several prisons where thousands of former fighters and affiliates are held. Recent developments underscore the shifting power dynamics in the region, with Syrian government forces tightening their control amidst ongoing clashes and humanitarian challenges.

As the situation continues to evolve, the fate of the detainees and the strategic implications for Syrian governance remain critical topics of concern for international observers and local populations alike.