Syria accuses SDF of 'security breach' after alleged Daesh prisoner release

Syrian authorities have issued a stern condemnation of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), accusing the group of committing a "serious security breach" by allegedly releasing Daesh detainees from al-Shaddadi prison in northeastern Hasakah province. The Syrian Interior Ministry declared its readiness to assume full control of prisons holding Daesh elements and demanded direct coordination with the United States to counter the threat.

Government's Readiness and Accusations of Blackmail

In a formal statement, the ministry asserted its "constitutional and legal responsibilities" to take over the management and security of prisons in Hasakah, promising to adhere to "internationally recognized standards." The statement held the SDF "fully responsible for any escapes or releases of Daesh elements from prisons under their control." Damascus further accused the SDF's political arm, the Autonomous Administration, of exploiting the "terrorism file as a tool of political or security blackmail."

Military Takes Control and Imposes Curfew

The Syrian Arab News Agency reported that military forces have taken control of the city of al-Shaddadi and its prison. The army's Operations Command stated that its forces immediately began operations to secure the area and arrest any escaped detainees. A complete curfew was imposed in al-Shaddadi and its surroundings, with residents urged to report any sightings of fleeing Daesh elements. The command claimed the SDF rejected previous requests to hand over the prison to Syrian security forces.

Context of a Recent Ceasefire and Integration Deal

This security crisis unfolds against the backdrop of a major political agreement. Just a day prior, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa announced a ceasefire and a deal for the full integration of the SDF into state institutions. The agreement stipulates the SDF's withdrawal from areas east of the Euphrates River, the handover of administrative control in key provinces, and the integration of its personnel into the Syrian army and police. The current allegations suggest severe tensions and potential violations as this fragile deal is implemented.

Critical Stakes for Türkiye's National Security

The alleged release of Daesh prisoners in northern Syria represents a direct and severe threat to Türkiye's national security. Türkiye, which has long viewed the SDF's dominant faction, the YPG, as an extension of the PKK terrorist organization, has repeatedly warned that instability in this region could lead to the resurgence of Daesh and other terror threats along its southern border. This incident validates Ankara's longstanding position that the SDF cannot be a reliable partner in counter-terrorism. It strengthens Türkiye's argument for the necessity of its own cross-border operations and underscores the urgent need for the region's control to revert to the Syrian state, a key Turkish foreign policy objective.