A Yazidi woman was freed during the operation against the terrorist militia "Islamic State" (ISIS) in Hol Camp in northern Syria, announced the security forces of the autonomous region of North and East Syria (Asayish) in a statement on the ninth day of the operation, which started on 25 August. According to the statement, the Yazidi woman was living among the ISIS families housed in the Hol reception and internment camp. According to the security forces, four more ISIS suspects were arrested on Friday and 33 tents used by ISIS for training purposes were dismantled.

With the latest arrests, at least 139 suspected members of the terror group have been taken out of circulation since the security operation began. According to a weekly report presented on Thursday by the Asayish Command on the operation in Hol Camp, 15 women who are alleged to be leading members of ISIS are among those arrested.

The operation in the camp near Hesekê is the second phase of the "Humanitarian Security Operation", which was launched in spring last year under the impression of terrorist attacks against residents, humanitarian aid organisations and security forces. The operation is coordinated by the Asayish Command, and units of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), including the People's and Women's Defense Units (YPG/YPJ), are supporting the operation.

7000 Yazidi women from Shengal trafficked into slavery

ISIS abducted about 7000 Yazidi women from Shengal into slavery in 2014, some of whom are still in the hands of ISIS supporters in other countries. 2700 to 2800 people are still considered missing. Many of the abducted women were initially taken to Raqqa. During the crushing of the last ISIS enclave in al-Bagouz in eastern Syria in spring 2019, numerous Yazidi women and children were freed. However, not all of them identified themselves as Yazidis for fear of the consequences. During the almost five years of captivity at the hands of ISIS, children in particular were indoctrinated in Islamism and the women were told horror stories about the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The rapes also resulted in many children, which makes the situation even more difficult for the Yazidi women.