Most families of foreign fighters have left Syria IS-linked Al-Hol camp: humanitarian sources

Thursday, 12 February, 2026 , 10:23

Beirut, Lebanon, Feb 12, 2026 (AFP) — Most foreign families have fled northeast Syria's Al-Hol camp, which holds relatives of suspected Islamic State group fighters, since the departure of Kurdish forces who previously guarded it, humanitarian sources said Thursday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one source told AFP that "since last Saturday... there are no more than 20 families in the foreigners' annex", while a source from another humanitarian organisation said the section was basically empty.

Last month, the Syrian government took over the camp -- which had a high-security section holding more than 6,000 foreigners from around 40 nationalities -- after Kurdish forces withdrew.

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