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US estimates 200 Islamic State fighters escaped Syrian prison, US official says

By Thomson Reuters Jan 20, 2026 | 8:54 AM

WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (Reuters) – About 200 low-level Islamic ‍State fighters escaped Syria’s Shaddadi prison on Monday after guards from ‌the Kurdish-led ‌Syrian Democratic Forces left the facility, but Syrian government forces recaptured ​many of them, a ‍U.S. official ​said on ​Tuesday.

The official, speaking ‍to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said about 600 foreign fighters ‍from Islamic State had been transferred from ‍Shaddadi ‍prior to ​January 19 ​to ⁠other facilities and ‌remain in detention.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Lisa ⁠Shumaker)