Dêrik Prison Escape Attempt
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The Dêrik prison escape attempt was an organized revolt at the detention center in
al-Malikiyah Al-Malikiyah (; ; ) also known as Derik, is a city in northeastern Syria and the center of an administrative district belonging to Al-Hasakah Governorate. The district constitutes the northeastern corner of the country, and is where the Syrian ...
(Dêrik),
Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...
on 5 April 2019, attempted by prisoners belonging to the
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Daesh, is a transnational Salafi jihadist organization and unrecognized quasi-state. IS occupied signi ...
. The detainees launched a coordinated uprising to facilitate a breakout, but were foiled by the quick intervention of local security forces and the
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
.


Background

As the
Syrian Democratic Forces The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is a Kurds in Syria, Kurdish-led coalition of U.S.-backed Left-wing politics, left-wing ethnic militias and rebel groups, and serves as the official military wing of the Democratic Autonomous Administration ...
(SDF), backed by the international CJTF–OIR coalition, defeated the
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Daesh, is a transnational Salafi jihadist organization and unrecognized quasi-state. IS occupied signi ...
(ISIL) in a number of campaigns during the Syrian Civil War, thousands of ISIL members were captured and detained at several facilities throughout the
Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria The Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), also known as Rojava, is a ''de facto'' Autonomous administrative division, autonomous region in northeastern Syria. It consists of self-governing Regions of North and E ...
. One of the most secure detention centers for ISIL members is the Dêrik prison in
al-Malikiyah Al-Malikiyah (; ; ) also known as Derik, is a city in northeastern Syria and the center of an administrative district belonging to Al-Hasakah Governorate. The district constitutes the northeastern corner of the country, and is where the Syrian ...
, a town near the Iraq-Syria border, where about 400 ISIL fighters were held. These included many international jihadists, including 20 French citizens, some of whom had been involved in the 2012 Toulouse and
November 2015 Paris attacks A series of coordinated Islamist terrorist attacks took place on Friday, 13 November 2015 in Paris, France, and the city's northern suburb, Saint-Denis. Beginning at 21:16, three suicide bombers struck outside the Stade de France in Saint-De ...
. The French detainees are believed to have been among the chief organisers of the prison escape.


Escape attempt

On the morning of 5 April 2019, the prisoners took advantage of the lessened security during their toilet hour. About 200 detainees simultaneously attacked the prison guards in an attempt to take a guard hostage, and capture firearms to facilitate an escape. The local security forces quickly responded to the uprising, and sent many SDF reinforcements to Dêrik prison. The
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
dispatched two fighter jets which flew on a low altitude over the prison to encourage the would-be escapees to surrender. After a few hours, the prison uprising was quelled, reportedly "peacefully". None of the prisoners managed to escape, though the attempt had reportedly come close to being successful.


Aftermath

CJTF–OIR aircraft conducted aerial observation of the area after the escape attempt, ensuring that none of the inmates had fled. Security at Dêrik prison was heightened. The French prisoners were subsequently distributed to other detention centers at the request of the French government. This was done so that another organized escape attempt became less likely. SDF foreign relations official Redur Xelil stated that the escape attempt "shows that these people are terrorists, killers and constitute a danger, a situation we have repeatedly voiced before." He also once again requested on behalf of the SDF international help in managing the prisoners.


See also

*
Human rights in North and East Syria The Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria is a ''de facto'' autonomous region of Syria that emerged from 2012 onwards during the Syrian civil war and in particular the Rojava conflict. The current administration emphasises ...


References

{{reflist April 2019 crimes in Asia Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Syria Military operations of the Syrian civil war in 2019 Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Syrian Democratic Forces Prison escapes in Asia