Syria Announces Plan to Shutter Notorious ISIS-Linked Camps, Raising Questions Over Fate of Thousands

DAMASCUS/GENEVA – The Syrian government announced plans on Friday to permanently shut down two major displacement camps in the country's northeast that have long housed tens of thousands of people, including foreign nationals, with alleged ties to the Islamic State (ISIS) militant group.

The decision targets the sprawling al-Hol and Roj camps, facilities that have become enduring symbols of the complex aftermath of the war against ISIS. According to United Nations figures, the camps collectively hold more than 28,000 residents, predominantly Syrian and Iraqi women and children. Approximately 8,000 foreigners from dozens of countries are detained in segregated sections, with about 6,000 in al-Hol and 2,000 in Roj.

A senior Syrian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the closure plan to Reuters. The Swiss-based Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), a charity operating in both camps, indicated it understood Damascus aims to empty and shutter the sites within a year.

The announcement follows a significant shift in control on the ground. Syrian government forces recently assumed security responsibility for al-Hol camp after the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which had guarded the site for years, conducted a chaotic withdrawal. The SDF still controls the Roj camp, where residents reported being confined to their tents in recent days as aid groups evacuated due to escalating security concerns.

At their peak, the camps held over 50,000 people who fled the final collapse of ISIS's territorial caliphate. Numbers have gradually decreased, primarily due to repatriation programs led by Iraq. The camps are designated for families and individuals accused of affiliations with ISIS, distinct from prisons holding suspected combatants.

Among the most high-profile detainees is Shamima Begum, the British-born woman who left London as a teenager to join ISIS. Her case, and those of thousands like her, underscores the international dilemma posed by the camps: the reluctance of home countries to repatriate their citizens, citing security risks, versus the humanitarian and security crisis of indefinite detention in Syria.

Analysts warn that the closure plan, while potentially reducing a major security burden for Damascus, raises immediate and severe questions. "The critical issue is not the announcement, but the 'how' and 'to where'," said Karim Al-Jasim, a regional security analyst based in Beirut. "Without coordinated, large-scale repatriations or a clear, humane resettlement framework, this could lead to people being pushed into legal limbo or worse, potentially allowing extremist networks to regroup in the shadows."

Reaction & Commentary:
"This is a long-overdue step. These camps are powder kegs—humanitarian disasters and breeding grounds for the next generation of extremists. The international community's failure to take back their citizens is a disgrace. Syria cannot be expected to bear this burden alone indefinitely." – Elena Vance, Former Diplomat & Foreign Policy Fellow (Washington D.C.).
"The Syrian regime's 'solution' fills me with dread. Where are these people supposed to go? This isn't policy; it's abandonment. We are talking about thousands of children who have known only camp life. Rushing to close without a transparent, rights-based plan is reckless and will cause immense suffering." – Dr. Liam Chen, Director of Humanitarian Response, Global Crisis Network (Geneva).
"Finally, a move towards ending this chapter. The focus must be on justice and rehabilitation within the region. Indefinite detention helps no one. While repatriation is ideal, host countries in the region, with international support, must lead sustainable reintegration efforts for those who pose no threat." – Amira Khoury, Political Sociologist, University of Damascus.