ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – More than 50 Syrian women and children have left the notorious al-Hol camp in northeast Syria (Rojava), which houses suspects with links to the Islamic State (ISIS), a non-governmental organization said on Monday. 

Mounzer al-Sallal, CEO of the Stabilization Support Unit (SSU) organization, told a press briefing that a group of 38 women and 16 children have been returned to their provinces across Syria – an operation dubbed “Hope Convoy 3” - from the al-Hol camp “under strict security supervision and humanitarian consideration.” 

“The Hope Convoy 3 is a part of the Stabilization Support Unit’s humanitarian efforts to evacuate families from al-Hol camp and ensure their return to their communities of origin,” SSU said in a statement. 

The families transited in the northern Aleppo province before being transferred to their provinces of Homs, Daraa, Idlib, Raqqa, and Deir ez-Zor, according to the organization. 

Located in Rojava’s Hasaka province, al-Hol houses tens of thousands of people with links to ISIS. The camp has been branded as a major security concern, with both regional and international communities repeatedly expressing concern and labeling it a “ticking time bomb.” 

On Sunday, neighboring Iraq said that it has repatriated over 19,000 people from the camp.

Iraq has repatriated 19,000 nationals from the notorious al-Hol camp in northeast Syria (Rojava), which houses suspects with links to the Islamic State (ISIS), the migration and displaced ministry said on Sunday

Ministry spokesperson Ali Abbas said that returns are being sped up… pic.twitter.com/oatp4lDSlo

— The New Region (@thenewregion) October 27, 2025 

Baghdad has been leading the drive to close the camp as soon as possible. In late September, Iraq held a conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on the repatriation of persons from al-Hol, with top Iraqi and UN officials urging the international community to repatriate their nationals. 

Iraq aims to complete the repatriation of its nationals from al-Hol by the end of 2025. The camp reportedly still holds over 13,000 Iraqis. 

Kurdish-led security forces in Rojava also routinely carry out operations against ISIS inside the camp and thwart escape attempts.