Islamic State Editorial on Syrian Government Takeover of al-Hol Camp

The collapse of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) across much of northeast Syria has raised fears and concerns about the SDF-run prisons and camps housing Islamic State (IS) members and their families as well as civilians who were residing in IS-held areas and became displaced as a result of the milirary campaign against IS. The al-Hol camp, located near the border with Iraq, is one of the largest such camps. The SDF has withdrawn from it and its administration has now been taken over by the Syrian government.

It should be noted that there is somewhat of a disconnect between the sentiments of some Syrian government fighters and supporters and the sentiments of at least some of those located in al-Hol camp. For some Syrian government fighters and supporters, the women and children of al-Hol in particular are Muslims who have been oppressed by the SDF and misled and abandoned by IS. For some of those in al-Hol camp who support IS, the Syrian government fighters and supporters are no better than the SDF: rather, they too are ‘apostates’ from Islam and still acting under the supervision and directives of ‘Crusader’ America.

It is very much in this spirit that the Islamic State has put out this week’s editorial in its al-Naba’ newsletter.