ISIS Booby-Traps Al-Hol Camp in Eastern Syria as Terrorist Operations Escalate Amid International Security Efforts
Northeastern Syria is witnessing a dangerous escalation in Islamic State activity, as the group has resorted to planting explosives inside Al-Hol camp, which shelters thousands of civilians and displaced persons.
The latest security sweep uncovered improvised explosive devices hidden in the camp’s fifth section, reserved for Iraqi and foreign women. This prompted a major intervention by the Asayish forces, supported by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the international coalition. Local sources, cited by Asharq Al-Awsat, confirmed that the security situation in the camp has become highly complex, with ISIS exploiting internal tensions and recurring attacks to target civilians and humanitarian workers.
According to Asayish reports, the camp has been subjected to more than thirty attacks since the beginning of the year, striking public facilities and aid workers. This surge in violence has forced the camp administration to scale back humanitarian services to the bare minimum in order to safeguard staff and residents.
Sources further reported that the group continues to exploit children under its so-called “Cubs of the Caliphate” program, aggravating internal security challenges and making control of the situation increasingly difficult.
A large-scale escape attempt involving 56 foreign women and their children was also foiled — the largest of its kind this year. They were transferred to security units for further investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
The camp currently houses about 26,000 people, including more than 6,000 individuals from ISIS-affiliated families of both Western and Arab nationalities, 5,000 Iraqi refugees, and 15,000 Syrian internally displaced persons. In addition, nine children of unknown identity are present, making the camp a particularly complex environment from both security and humanitarian perspectives.
These conditions have heightened pressure on aid agencies and international actors, who strive to maintain minimal life-sustaining services such as food, water, and basic healthcare.
The field visit on September 3–4, 2025, by U.S. Admiral Brad Cooper and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi underscored the importance of international and security coordination to counter ISIS cells operating within the camp and to strengthen preventive measures to protect both residents and humanitarian staff.
Previous security campaigns have resulted in the arrest of 435 suspected members of sleeper cells, reflecting both the ongoing scale of the threat and ISIS’s determination to use the camp as a platform for planning new terrorist operations.
