SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The United States on Saturday commended the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) for their “swift” response to an attack by Islamic State (ISIS) militants to free prisoners in a prison in northeast Syria.
“The United States condemns Thursday’s ISIS attack on the Hasakah Provincial Internal Security Forces detention center in northeast Syria, which was an attempt to free detained ISIS fighters,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement.
“We commend the Syrian Democratic Forces for their swift response and continued commitment to the fight against ISIS in northeast Syria,” it added.
Fighting raged for a third day on Saturday between ISIS and Kurdish forces after the militant group attacked Ghweran prison in north of Hasakah.
The prison houses some 3,500 ISIS members, including leaders, according to Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The SDF said earlier that 22 ISIS militants were killed in the prison and its forces seized a vehicle loaded with weapons, ammunition and explosive belts.
“Attacking the detention facility was a top ISIS priority for more than a year,” the U.S. state department said.
“It is a credit to the diligent, capable efforts of the SDF and Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS forces that they were able to thwart numerous attacks during that period and limit the severity of this one,” it added.
“The losses sustained by our partners in these attacks are a stark reminder of the very real challenges the region continues to face.”
