Counterterrorism

Syrian Regime Takes Over IS Prison Amid Kurdish Withdrawal: A Risky Gamble for Regional Stability

By Economics Desk | January 23, 2026

As Kurdish fighters evacuate key IS detention centers in northeast Syria, the Assad regime moves in to control dangerous extremists, raising questions about America’s counterterrorism strategy and regional security.

The recent handover of al-Aqtan prison from Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to the Syrian government is not just a local event—it reflects a troubling shift with serious implications for American national security. For years, the SDF played a pivotal role in containing and defeating ISIS on the ground. Now, as they withdraw under pressure and political deals with Damascus, the regime loyal to Bashar al-Assad reasserts control over facilities holding thousands of Islamic State detainees. Why Is U.S.-Backed Kurdish Withdrawal a Dangerous Development? The withdrawal of nearly 800 SDF fighters from al-Aqtan prison after a two-week siege by Syrian...

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