Al-Shaddadi prison in northeastern Hasakah appears empty after about 120 detainees affiliated with the Islamic State group escaped, 22 January 2026. (Enab Baladi, Marwan al-Mudahi)
Syria’s Interior Ministry said that 81 of the escapees were later arrested, 22 January 2026. (Enab Baladi, Marwan al-Mudahi)
The prison holds former Islamic State detainees and is considered one of the largest detention centers in northeastern Syria, 22 January 2026. (Enab Baladi, Marwan al-Mudahi)
The prison held fewer than 1,000 detainees before guard numbers dropped to about 200 personnel, 22 January 2026. (Enab Baladi, Marwan al-Mudahi)
The withdrawal of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) guards left the prison building unguarded for a short period, 22 January 2026. (Enab Baladi, Marwan al-Mudahi)
Local sources said some residents helped smuggle about 200 detainees out of the prison, 22 January 2026. (Enab Baladi, Marwan al-Mudahi)
The Interior Ministry held the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) responsible for any security breaches at the prison during the period of chaos, 22 January 2026. (Enab Baladi, Marwan al-Mudahi)
The ministry described the incident as a serious security breach that could affect Syrian and regional security, 22 January 2026. (Enab Baladi, Marwan al-Mudahi)
Al-Shaddadi prison appeared largely empty after detainees were transferred and the remaining prisoners left the facility, 22 January 2026. (Enab Baladi, Marwan al-Mudahi)
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said the prison fell outside its control after repeated attacks by Syrian forces, 22 January 2026. (Enab Baladi, Marwan al-Mudahi)
The prison was among facilities under the international coalition’s oversight, but it did not intervene during the mass escape, 22 January 2026. (Enab Baladi, Marwan al-Mudahi)
Some rooms and facilities inside the prison were completely empty after the detainees left, 22 January 2026. (Enab Baladi, Marwan al-Mudahi)
The prison is currently under the control of Syrian government forces after it was handed over from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), 22 January 2026. (Enab Baladi, Marwan al-Mudahi)
The Interior Ministry stressed the need to apply the highest guarding and detention standards after the escape, 22 January 2026. (Enab Baladi, Marwan al-Mudahi)
Photos document al-Shaddadi prison after the escape of a number of detainees and the imposition of control over the facility, 22 January 2026. (Enab Baladi, Marwan al-Mudahi)
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