By Micah Jonah
January 20, 2026
The Syrian Army has announced a major operation to track, re-arrest ISIS (Daesh) detainees recently released by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Al-Shaddadi, a strategic city in southern Hasakah province.
According to the Army’s Operations Command, troops are mobilizing to comb the city and surrounding areas to prevent the escape of terror suspects who pose a threat to regional security.
The Syrian government has categorically rejected any attempts to use the fight against terrorism as a political or security bargaining tool, emphasizing that stability and the rule of law remain its top priority.
Security analysts warn that such prisoner releases could embolden ISIS networks in northeastern Syria, potentially destabilizing the already fragile region and complicating efforts to combat terrorism.
The developments in Al-Shaddadi come amid heightened tensions between Syrian government forces and SDF units, highlighting the challenges of coordinating security in areas long affected by insurgency.
