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Islamic State Militants Riot, Escape Prison in Syria

VOA News

   U.S.-backed Kurdish forces searched for an unknown number of prisoners
   who escaped Sunday from a prison in northeastern Syria.

   Goiranprison in al-Hasakprovinceis one of several where the Syrian
   Democratic Forces are holding thousandsof Islamic State fighters after
   playing a key role in ousting the militant group.

   RubarHussein, an SDF commander and the head of the prison, said a group
   of militants rioted, destroying security cameras, breaking doors and
   taking control of one of the floors of the prison.

   He said search efforts were ongoing to find the prisoners who escaped.

   The U.S.-led coalition said it was helping the SDF with aerial
   surveillance at thesite, andidentified the prison population as
   "low-level ISIS members."

   Among the militants the SDF is holding in its prisons are an estimated
   2,000 fighters who traveled to Syria from other countries. The SDF has
   sought help from those nations to take back their nationals.

   "This problem is all countries' problem," Hussein said. "While these
   prisoners are here with us, many countries have turned their back
   onusand they do not help us. We hope that we get help as we were
   promised."

   Kurdish Service stringer Zana Omar contributed to this report.

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