Regarding the situation in Hasakah, Syria
By CJTF-OIR Public Affairs Special Operations Joint Task Force – Levant / Public Affairs Office
SOUTHWEST ASIA  –  Following the initial attack on January 20, 2022, the Syrian Democratic Forces conducted operations to recapture escaped detainees. The SDF cleared the old detention facility of active enemy fighters and is conducting recovery operations and rendering the area fully safe. The detainees were relocated into an enhanced and hardened facility preventing further Daesh destruction.

“This was a huge ISIS failure that ultimately sped up the clock to ensuring that the detainees are in a hardened facility from which they will never escape,” said Brigadier General Isaac Peltier, Commander of Special Operations Joint Task Force – Levant.

The SDF, with Coalition support, contained the threat by establishing a perimeter around the facility. The SDF’s quick response to the attack and their efforts throughout the fight mitigated the loss of life. They controlled the situation by conducting negotiations resulting in the majority of attackers surrendering and the release of hostages. The SDF also successfully captured or killed Daesh senior leaders.

Daesh affiliates were provided medical treatment after surrender for any injuries sustained, and they were treated humanely during their transfer to the new detention facility. In addition to the medical support, various Coalition vehicles were used to enable the SDF.

The SDF will respond to counter Daesh’s attempts to refill its ranks. Special Operations Joint Task Force-Levant advises, assists and enables the SDF and other regional partner forces. These efforts prevent the resurgence of malign actors and their ability to threaten the stability and security of the region.

More information will be released as it becomes available

Desperate attacks make Daesh weaker: Coalition
By CJTF-OIR Public Affairs CJTF OIR
BAGHDAD  –  Daesh’s desperate attacks in the past days have made it ultimately weaker, according to the Coalition charged with advising, assisting, and enabling partner forces.

In Syria, on January 20, 2022, a complex attack was carried out on the Hasakah detention facility in Hasakah province, Syria.

The Syrian Democratic Forces immediately responded to the threat, cordoning the area, and have conducted sustained operations since the attack began on Thursday night. With the assistance of Coalition ISR and strike capabilities, the SDF have contained the threat.

Coalition forces conducted real-time surveillance during the event, and conducted a series of strikes throughout the days-long operation, to include precision targeting of Daesh fighters who were attacking the SDF from buildings in the area. The Coalition retains the right to defend itself and partner forces against any threat, and will continue to do everything within its power to protect those forces.

The groups responsible for this brazen attack are now ultimately weaker, said Maj. Gen. John W. Brennan, Jr., commander, Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.

“In their desperate attempt to display relevance, Daesh delivered a death sentence for many of their own who participated in this attack,” said Brennan. “Many Daesh detainees seized arms from prison guards whom they murdered and subsequently engaged SDF quick reaction forces. Unlike Daesh, the Coalition has taken great measures to ensure the humane treatment of detainees, but when ISIS detainees took up arms, they became an active threat, and were subsequently engaged and killed by the SDF and Coalition airstrikes.”

Detainees who did not participate in the attack will be secured, with more details to be announced as the SDF completes its operations in the area. ISIS detainees attempted to destroy a new, more secure detention facility in Hasakah, in the vicinity of the existing detention facility, but failed. The new facility is nearly complete in its construction.

The Coalition is confident in its assessment that the recent Daesh escape attempt will not pose a significant threat to Iraq or the region, but is analyzing the situation to determine whether Daesh is planning any future attacks on other detention facilities in Iraq or Syria. While Daesh remains a threat, it is clearly no longer the force it once was, said Brennan.

“The Coalition answered the call for help back in 2014, when Daesh ravaged the region, controlling hundreds of thousands of miles of territory, and 8 million innocent civilians were victims of its brutality. The Coalition degraded, dismantled, and ultimately destroyed Daesh’s territorial ‘caliphate’ in 2017. While it is militarily defeated, Daesh remains an existential threat to the region. Due to its severely degraded capability, Daesh’s future survival is dependent on its ability to refill its ranks through poorly-conceived attempts like the Hasakah attack. At the invitation of the Republic of Iraq, we will continue to advise, assist, and enable our partner forces to ensure Daesh is unable to regenerate within Iraq or Syria,” said Brennan.

Please report any information you may have on detainees or those involved in attacks to +1 (240) 224-3777.