The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) quoted a US official as saying the al-Hol camp in northeast Syria is “a ticking time bomb” and remains a threat.
Dana Stroul, the former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, told the WSJ the situation at the camp in Hasaka governorate was extremely dangerous and like a bomb waiting to explode at any time.
Stroul said a large amount of weapons, and ammunition were seized during a recent operation carried out by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Dozens of Islamic State (ISIS) fighters were arrested during the operation and a Yezidi woman was rescued after she was held by ISIS for ten years.
The WSJ said the main challenge for coalition forces and the SDF is to counter attempts by ISIS fighters inside the camp and to prevent the camp’s residents from carrying out extremist acts.
Mazloum Abdi, the general commander of the SDF, has also referred to the camp as “a ticking time bomb” and he has repeatedly called on countries to repatriate their citizens from the camp.
Rojava Information Center said on March 10 there were 6,912 third-country nationals in al-Hol, along with 18,028 Syrians, and 22,091 Iraqis.
