Syria declares Al-Hol camp a ‘closed military zone’

Syrian authorities announced Monday evening that the Al-Hol camp, located in the northeastern province of Hasakah near the Syrian-Iraqi border, has been designated a complete “closed military zone.” Syria Alikhbaria TV, citing the Hasakah Media Directorate, reported that internal security forces have banned anyone from approaching or entering the area under any circumstances. The directorate warned that violations would result in strict measures, including immediate arrest and referral to the judiciary, potentially leading to severe prison sentences.

Camp fully evacuated earlier this year

In February, Fadi al-Qassem, a Syrian Foreign Ministry official responsible for Al-Hol camp, told Anadolu that the camp had been fully evacuated. Iraq’s National Security Advisory later confirmed that the camp had been completely dismantled after transferring more than 5,600 families—approximately 22,000 people—to Iraqi territory. The evacuation marked the end of a decades-long chapter for the sprawling camp, which had become a symbol of the humanitarian crisis left by the Daesh war.

History of Al-Hol and Türkiye’s concerns

Al-Hol camp was originally established in 2003 to shelter Iraqi refugees fleeing the US invasion of Iraq. It later fell under Daesh control in 2014 before being recaptured and used to hold suspected members of the terror group and their families, alongside thousands of displaced Syrian and Iraqi civilians. For Türkiye, which shares a long border with Syria and has faced threats from Daesh and other extremist groups, the closure of Al-Hol is a significant development. Ankara has long warned that ungoverned camps in northeastern Syria could become breeding grounds for terrorism. While the camp’s evacuation and military closure address some security concerns, Türkiye continues to urge the international community to ensure that returning families are properly reintegrated and that no new security vacuums emerge along its southern border.