ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Tuesday they were “compelled to withdraw” from the notorious al-Hol camp, which houses tens of thousands of people linked to the Islamic State (ISIS), amid attacks by Damascus-affiliated forces on the infamous camp.

Factions linked to the Syrian government are carrying out a large-scale military offensive in areas of northern Syria held by the SDF, in a blatant violation of a ceasefire deal signed Sunday between Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF chief Mazloum Abdi.

The SDF said Tuesday that the factions linked with the Syrian transitional government were carrying out attacks on the camp, days after taking over the al-Shaddadi prison, which led to over 100 prisoners being freed.

“Due to the international indifference toward the issue of the ISIS terrorist organization and the failure of the international community to assume its responsibilities in addressing this serious matter, our forces were compelled to withdraw from Al-Hol Camp and redeploy in the vicinity of cities in northern Syria that are facing increasing risks and threats,” the SDF’s communication center said in a statement on Tuesday.

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.”

Following the SDF’s announcement, Syria’s Interior Ministry said it is closely monitoring the situation and taking “all necessary measures, in coordination and cooperation with the international coalition, to maintain security and stability and prevent any attempts that threaten public safety,” regarding the al-Hol camp, while blaming the Kurdish forces for withdrawing without prior notice to the Syrian government.

The ministry also accused the Kurdish forces of allegedly releasing a number of ISIS prisoners from detention facilities, a claim the SDF has denied, as videos circulating on social media showed conflicting accounts, including footage that Kurdish officials said depicts Damascus-affiliated forces attempting such acts.

In a separate statement, the Syrian government said it had notified US partners of the SDF about the Kurdish forces’ intention to withdraw since last night. It further confirmed Damascus’s “complete and immediate readiness” to take over those positions.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Tuesday expressed concerns about the “growing presence” of ISIS elements across the border in Syria.

Sudani called for a “stable and unified Syria, where all communities coexist peacefully" in a statement.

The al-Hol camp houses thousands of Iraqi nationals with links to ISIS, and Iraq has said it aims to complete the repatriation of its citizens from al-Hol by the end of 2025, with leading efforts to close the camp.

SDF and Damascus agreed on a ceasefire to take effect at 8:00 pm on Tuesday, the Kurdish-led force however reported attacks on Raqqa's al-Atqan prison minutes after the ceasefire was supposed to enter into effect, adding to several ceasefire agreements that have proven fragile and short-lived.