Syria’s Ministry of Defence denied statements by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that al-Shaddadi prison in Hasakah had come under attack, saying instead that the SDF had deliberately released detainees held there, SANA reported on January 19.

Earlier, the SDF said a “armed group” had attacked al-Shaddadi prison, which it said houses thousands of fighters from the Islamic State, adding that the facility was now outside its control.

Syria’s defence ministry said the SDF statement was inaccurate. The army’s operations command announced that “army forces have begun entering the city of al-Shaddadi, south of Hasakah, after the SDF released Islamic State elements from al-Shaddadi prison.”

In an official message from the Syrian government, it said, "The Syrian Government condemns in the strongest terms the execution of prisoners and detainees in the city of Al-Tabqah in the countryside of Raqqa Governorate by the SDF and groups affiliated with the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), following their withdrawal from the area.

The SDF had also said earlier that clashes were taking place with government forces near al-Aqtan prison on the outskirts of Raqqa, another site holding IS detainees. 

It described the fighting as “a very serious development,” warning that any takeover of the prison by government forces could have “serious security repercussions that threaten stability.”

The dispute comes amid the implementation of a comprehensive integration agreement reached on Sunday, under which responsibility for prisons holding IS detainees is to be transferred to the Syrian government.

In a separate development, Syria’s Ministry of Interior noted it had carried out a wide security deployment across eastern rural Deir Ezzor.

In a statement, the ministry said “Units of the Ministry of Interior carried out extensive field deployments in towns and areas of eastern Deir Ezzor countryside to enhance security and stability, protect citizens and their property, ensure a safe and stable environment, and combat anything that threatens public order.”

The ministry confirmed that the move was part of ongoing efforts to maintain community safety and uphold public order as security arrangements are reconfigured across parts of eastern and northeastern Syria.