ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Wednesday denied claims by the Syrian government that the perpetrators of a deadly explosion at a Damascus church had come from al-Hol camp, which is under SDF control in northeast Syria.
Syria’s interior ministry has said a suicide bomber affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) attacked the Mar Elias Church in Damascus’ Duwaila neighborhood during Sunday mass. The attacker reportedly opened fire on worshippers before detonating an explosive vest. The Syrian health ministry confirmed on Monday that 25 people were killed and 63 injured.
Syrian interior ministry spokesperson Noureddine al-Baba said during a press conference on Tuesday that they had dismantled the ISIS cell responsible for the attack, claiming that it also includes two non-Syrian suicide bombers who had infiltrated to the capital from the notorious al-Hol camp in the SDF-held northeast Syria (Rojava).
The SDF categorically rejected the allegation in a statement on Wednesday.
“In response to these allegations, the relevant departments within our forces immediately initiated a thorough review and investigation of the records pertaining to the residents of al-Hol Camp, including those who have exited the camp in recent months. The investigation confirmed that the only individuals who left the camp during this period were Syrians, and their departure occurred at the request of the Damascus Government. Additionally, Iraqi nationals were repatriated to Iraqi territory based on verified lists submitted by the Iraqi authorities, who ensured their relocation to the al-Jadah Camp,” said the SDF in a statement.
Tens of thousands of people, mostly families of ISIS fighters, are held in the camp. The SDF has allowed Damascus to return Syrians kept in the camp to their homes and Iraq has been praised for repatriating a great number of its nationals. Iraqis make up nearly half of the population of the camp.
SDF further explained that the camp mostly comprises women and children rather than foreign fighters of ISIS. The SDF is keeping several thousand ISIS fighters in prisons.
