Dozens of ISIS inmates escaped a prison in Shaddadi, northeast Syria, amid reports of clashes between government-linked factions and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The SDF said it lost control of the facility following an attack “carried out by factions affiliated with Damascus.” Videos released by the group showed what it described as ISIS members being freed from a Shaddadi jail by individuals wearing black balaclavas.
Footage documents the moment Damascus factions stormed Al-Shaddadi prison, which houses thousands of ISIS members, and removed them from the prison to the outside by those factions. pic.twitter.com/emDnL5SNig
— Syrian Democratic Forces (@SDF_Syria) January 19, 2026
The SDF said that although Al-Shaddadi prison is located roughly two kilometers from the U.S.-led local international coalition base, the base did not intervene despite repeated calls for assistance.
The Syrian army denied any involvement in the attack and said it would search for the escaped prisoners.
According to open-source reports, Syria’s Interior Ministry, in coordination with U.S. forces, recaptured 81 of the escapees just hours after the incident.
Earlier today, ~120 #ISIS-linked detainees were released from a prison in al-Shadadi, when #SDF forces fled.
In the hours since, in coordination with US forces, #Syria’s Interior Ministry has recaptured 81.
This #ISIS detainee issue must be treated with the utmost seriousness. pic.twitter.com/bY9vlKASiL
— Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) January 20, 2026
The incident erupted less than a day after President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced a ceasefire and plans to reclaim the country’s northeast after nearly two weeks of fighting in Aleppo and eastern Syria.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the SDF accused the Syrian military of beheading four Kurdish fighters in Rojava, northeast Syria. In a post on X, the group described the act as “a heinous crime” carried out “in the style of the ISIS terrorist organization.”
Damascus Government Forces Commit a Heinous Crime
In a heinous crime committed by Damascus government forces, they beheaded a group of our fighters during their capture and recorded the operation on video in the style of the ISIS terrorist organization.
We call on the…
— Syrian Democratic Forces (@SDF_Syria) January 19, 2026
