The Kurdish Internal Security Forces (Asayish) have arrested dozens of wanted persons and suspects at al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria.
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and counter-terrorism forces, in coordination with the international coalition, took part in the largest security crackdown on the camp since the beginning of the year.
A prominent security source from the camp administration said forces raided tents and found weapons, ammunition, tunnels and secret networks that were used by ISIS-loyal elements and sleeper cells.
He revealed that active ISIS-affiliated cells were preparing to launch a large-scale attack to control the camp, similar to the Jan. 20 bloody attack on Ghwayran prison (also known as Sina'a) in Syria's northeastern city of Hasakah.
According to the same source, the security forces confiscated explosive belts and military uniforms the attackers intended to wear as camouflage.
The campaign comes in light of the deteriorating security situation in areas bordering Iraq.
Earlier this month, unknown assailants carried out an armed attack at a checkpoint in the camp’s sixth division, killing an Asayish security guard and wounding another.
The attack came only 48 hours after violent armed clashes in the first division between ISIS loyalists and camp guards left two extremists dead and several others injured.
A member of the security forces and four Iraqi refugees, including a child and two women, were injured during the clashes.
Al-Hol holds internal refugees and families of ISIS militants who fled or surrendered during the dying days of the extremist group’s self-proclaimed "caliphate" in March 2019.
It shelters around 56,000 displaced people and refugees -- including from multiple nations -- and most of them younger than 18, according to latest United Nations figures.
