U.S. repatriates a toddler from sprawling camp in northeastern Syria holding households of ISIS fighters

The USA has repatriated an American youngster separated from their household from a sprawling camp in northeastern Syria that homes tens of hundreds of individuals with alleged ties to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the State Division mentioned Tuesday.

The division estimates that some 30,000 folks from 70 international locations stay in al-Hol Camp and one different related camp, most of them wives and kids of ISIS fighters in addition to supporters of the extremist group. They embrace Iraqis in addition to nationals of Western international locations who traveled to affix the U.S.-designated international terrorist group.

Human rights teams for years have cited poor residing circumstances and pervasive violence within the al-Hol camp, which the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have administered for years. The SDF are Washington’s key ally in combating ISIS in Syria and its sleeper cells, and for years have run giant swaths of northeastern Syria.

CBS Information’ senior international correspondent Holly Williams visited the al-Hol camp in 2019 and spoke with the camp’s residents. Lots of them expressed regret for his or her prior ties to ISIS and mentioned they wished to return to their residence international locations — typically in Western Europe — however some others defended the group’s terror assaults.

The State Division didn’t give any particulars concerning the repatriation, besides to say in a press release that the kid “has identified nothing of life exterior of the camps” and will likely be reunified with their household.

The U.S. navy for years has been pushing for international locations to repatriate their residents from al-Hol and the smaller, separate Roj Camp. Iraq has taken again an growing quantity lately, however many different international locations have remained reluctant.

“The one sturdy answer to the humanitarian and safety disaster in these displaced individuals camps in northeast Syria is for international locations of origin to repatriate, rehabilitate, reintegrate, and the place acceptable, guarantee accountability for his or her nationals,” the State Division assertion learn. “The identical goes for former ISIS fighters held in detention facilities in northeast Syria,” it mentioned, utilizing a special abbreviation for IS.

Regardless of troublesome talks to formally merge with the nation’s new rulers beneath interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, Damascus and the SDF in Might reached an settlement to repatriate Syrians within the camp. Because the ouster of former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in December, Washington has been pushing for the 2 sides to implement their deal and unify Syrian territory, which might in the end put the camp beneath the management of the federal government.

Final 12 months, shortly after Assad’s authorities fell, CBS Information was taken inside the al-Hol camp. Guards mentioned the safety state of affairs had deteriorated since phrase had unfold about Assad’s ouster, elevating optimism that they may go away the camp.

The SDF didn’t instantly remark to the Related Press on the repatriation.