(Adnkronos) – The Syrian army announced last night that it had taken control of Al Aqtan prison in the Raqqa governorate, as part of the ceasefire agreement reached last week with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The agreement provides for the immediate cessation of Damascus’ offensive in the northeast of the country, as well as the integration of Kurdish-Arab institutions and forces into the Syrian state.
“Army units have just begun transferring Syrian Democratic Forces fighters from Al Aqtan prison and its surroundings, in Raqqa province, to the city of Ain al-Arab, east of Aleppo,” the Armed Forces operational command confirmed to the state news agency Sana, calling it “the first step” in implementing the agreement signed last Sunday.
The capture of Al Aqtan comes hours after the SDF reported “bombings” on the prison, which houses Islamic State fighters, by forces affiliated with Damascus. “At the same time, these factions attacked the outskirts of the city of Sarrin,” in the Aleppo Governorate, “and the village of Khrus, south of Kobanê, with heavy weapons and artillery,” they stated in a press release. (more)
The Kurdish-Arab forces then accused the government led by Ahmed al-Shara of violating the ceasefire. On Wednesday, “22 violations by these factions occurred, including attacks on Kobanê, Hasakah, and Al-Aqtan prison,” they denounced, also accusing the Syrian authorities of persisting in “their policy of collective punishment, interrupting the supply of water and electricity to the city of Kobanê and preventing fuel deliveries despite the harsh winter conditions.”
Al-Aqtan prison houses approximately two thousand Islamic State fighters, many of whom are considered among the most dangerous exponents of the jihadist group, the Kurdish news channel Rudaw emphasizes.
The agreement establishes that, in exchange for the immediate cessation of the Syrian army’s offensive in the northeast of the country, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and the SDF will recognize the immediate and complete administrative and military transfer of the Deir Ezzor and Raqqa governorates to the Syrian government and the integration of all civil institutions of the Hasakah governorate into the institutions and administrative structures of the Syrian state.
