IS Syria prison attack puts child detainees in harm’s way

byJohn Smith •
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Fighters with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces man a checkpoint in Hassakeh, northeast Syria, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022.Clashes between U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters and militants continued for a fourth day Sunday close to the jail in northeastern Syria that homes 1000's of members of IS, the Kurdish pressure mentioned.
  • Fighters with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces man a checkpoint in Hassakeh, northeast Syria, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022.Clashes between U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters and militants continued for a fourth day Sunday near the prison in northeastern Syria that houses thousands of members of IS, the Kurdish force said.
  • A soldier with the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces h checks area in Hassakeh, Syria, Tuesday, Jen. 25, 2022. After breaking into the prison late Thursday, IS militants were joined by others rioting inside the facility that houses over 3,000 inmates, including hundreds of minors. They took hostages from among the prison staff and have since been holed up in the northern wing at one end of the facility, known as al-Sinaa or Gweiran prison.
  • Soldier swith the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces h check a house in Hassakeh, Syria, Tuesday, Jen. 25, 2022. After breaking into the prison late Thursday, IS militants were joined by others rioting inside the facility that houses over 3,000 inmates, including hundreds of minors. They took hostages from among the prison staff and have since been holed up in the northern wing at one end of the facility, known as al-Sinaa or Gweiran prison.
  • American soldiers deploy in Hassakeh, Syria, Tuesday, Jen. 25, 2022. After breaking into the prison late Thursday, IS militants were joined by others rioting inside the facility that houses over 3,000 inmates, including hundreds of minors. They took hostages from among the prison staff and have since been holed up in the northern wing at one end of the facility, known as al-Sinaa or Gweiran prison.

BEIRUT (AP) — In a recording that emerged from a Syrian jail wing taken over by Islamic State group militants, a trapped teenager pleads for assist, describing the mayhem of a days-long battle over the ability that has reportedly left a number of youngster inmates killed and wounded.

U.S.-backed Kurdish-led forces have been advancing slowly contained in the detention facility, the place they mentioned Tuesday they freed 9 of their servicemen held hostage by the militants. At the very least 15 others are nonetheless held by IS, one Kurdish official mentioned.

IS militants stormed the jail late Thursday, aiming to interrupt out comrades inside. Round 200 militants stay holed up within the northern wing at one finish of the jail complicated, holding hostages from among the many jail workers.

The Gweiran Jail, also called al-Sinaa, is the biggest detention facility in northeast Syria for suspected IS members, with greater than 3,000 inmates, together with tons of of minors.

The assault is the most important by IS militants for the reason that fall of the group’s “caliphate” in 2019. Dozens from either side have been killed within the clashes, the U.S.-led coalition has carried out practically a dozen airstrikes, and 1000's of civilians residing close by have been displaced.

The militants are additionally utilizing minors as human shields, Kurdish officers say, slowing the hassle by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces to retake the ability, positioned within the northeastern metropolis of Hassakeh.

Youngsters are reportedly among the many useless and wounded from the combating, rights teams say, although numbers aren't identified.

Letta Tayler, affiliate disaster and battle director at Human Rights Watch, mentioned she had unconfirmed experiences that SDF paramedics have been treating wounded youngsters, together with others, in newly recaptured elements of the jail complicated.

She mentioned she discovered from a well-placed supply that militants had moved the boys to numerous elements of the jail and so they have been not segregated in an space for minors, “which complicates rescue and recapture efforts.”

Human Rights Watch offered The Related Press with a collection of audio messages despatched by a 17-year-old Australian from contained in the jail.

He appealed for assist and described his environment, saying he was in a kitchen when combating erupted round him. He mentioned he was injured within the head and was bleeding.

“They aren't stopping taking pictures. Each little bit they shoot. Each little bit they hit a missile. I don’t know what to do,” the teenager mentioned. HRW eliminated the teenager’s identify from the recording.

“I've seen a whole lot of our bodies of children. Eight, 10, 12 years (outdated). My associates received killed right here. I'm very scared. I'm on my own,” he mentioned.

“There isn't any medical doctors right here that may assist me. I need assistance please. I'm very scared. There are lots of people useless in entrance of me. I'm scared I'd die anytime due to bleeding. Please assist me.”

In a single day, scores of minors have been transported in buses out of the complicated, the top of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdurrahman, mentioned. Nevertheless it seems some stay within the militants’ fingers.

Some 600 minor boys, round half of them Iraqis and different non-Syrians, have been inmates within the jail. Most are between 14 to 17 years outdated, although some are as younger as 12, Tayler mentioned.

Most have been captured by Kurdish forces throughout their U.S.-backed marketing campaign that introduced down IS three years in the past. IS had skilled younger boys for fight, calling them “Cubs of the Caliphate,” however it isn't identified what number of of these within the jail are from the Cubs ranks.

“These youngsters ... ought to by no means have been positioned on this squalid, overcrowded jail, the place their lives are clearly in danger to start with,” Tayler mentioned.

The times of combating has shaken Hassakeh, spreading to residential areas the place the militants have taken cowl. Coalition airstrikes have hit the jail and the close by neighborhoods. The coalition additionally deployed Bradley Combating Automobiles to assist the operation, in accordance with a coalition official, talking on situation of anonymity consistent with rules.

Some 45,000 civilians have fled, in accordance with the U.N. Most have moved in with household and associates, however 750 have taken refuge in short-term shelters, together with mosques.

Shexa Miziyen is one among about 150 in a mosque within the Til Hajar neighborhood. She mentioned IS militants pressured their manner into her residence at daybreak and kicked her and her household out.

“They mentioned they didn’t need something. They wished security,” she mentioned. Miziyen mentioned these within the mosque have been receiving no assist at the same time as extra sought shelter there. “It appears that evidently they forgot about us.”

Khalil Hassan was pressured to host militants who took over his residence for a number of hours in a single day for shelter from the combating.

“They mentioned, ‘We're your brothers from the Islamic State and we gained’t damage you. Simply allow us to in,’” Hassan mentioned. They left hours later.

The SDF mentioned in a press release that it had gained management of extra jail cells Tuesday and freed 9 hostages. It mentioned extra inmates have surrendered, bringing the whole quantity to 550.

By loudspeakers, the SDF has known as on militants to give up. It mentioned its fighters recaptured over 100 inmates who escaped. The overall variety of fugitives stays unclear.

Releasing convicts and imprisoned comrades has been a principal tactic of the Islamic State group. Throughout their 2014 surge that overwhelmed territory in Iraq and Syria, IS carried out a number of jail breaks.

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