Kurdish Forces Held Foreign Daesh Families at Roj Camp
Officials confirmed over 2,200 relatives of fighters remain in the Hasakah facility as administration transfer plans continue.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Terrorism
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Kurdish security forces continue to guard the Roj camp in Syria, which currently houses 729 families of Daesh fighters. The facility remains the subject of an ongoing integration agreement between Kurdish authorities and the government in Damascus.
Why it matters
The camp holds complex humanitarian and security challenges, as many nations refuse to repatriate their citizens currently detained in the Hasakah province. This situation remains a significant political dimension for the region as administrative control shifts toward Damascus.
The Roj camp currently holds 2,200 foreign relatives representing more than 50 nationalities. Meanwhile, Kurdish authorities and Damascus continue to work toward an integration agreement established earlier this year.
The players
Hakmieh Ibrahim
He is a camp official who confirmed the current resident figures at the Roj facility.
Mazloum Abdi
He is a former leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces who now serves as an adviser to the Syrian President.
Syrian Democratic Forces
This was a Kurdish-led alliance that provided regional security before dissolving its fighting force in August 2026.
The details
The facility holds families from nations including Russia, France, Turkiye, Germany, Tunisia, and Morocco. Administration of the site is gradually moving to Damascus as part of a broader political transition that followed the August 2026 dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces.
Timeline
January 2026: Kurds and Damascus reached an integration agreement.
February 2026: The United States transferred 5,700 detainees to Iraq.
August 2026: The Syrian Democratic Forces dissolved their fighting force.
October 5, 2026: Camp official Hakmieh Ibrahim confirmed the current resident figures.
Legal Context
This situation follows a pattern of regional detainee management set by the February 2026 transfer of 5,700 Daesh detainees to Iraq. Ongoing transitions toward centralized administrative control in Syria reflect broader efforts to resolve the status of individuals held since the conflict.
International diplomatic efforts remain focused on the repatriation of citizens held in the camp to their respective home countries. The transition of authority is intended to resolve the long-term status of these detainees within the broader Syrian political landscape.
The takeaway
The Roj camp remains a critical point of concern regarding international efforts to manage the aftermath of the Daesh insurgency. Resolving the future of these detainees requires both individual national cooperation and stable administrative transitions within Syria.
Further reading
For more on ongoing security efforts, visit the Terrorism section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Arab News PK.
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