Syrian Democratic Forces reported the detention of 16 Islamic State militants in al-Hasakah governorate, Telegram channel Directorate 4 reports.

The jihadists were caught as part of an operation against Islamists in the al-Hawl camp where relatives of IS militants are held. During searches in the tents, law enforcers found automatic rifles, pistols and ammunition.

The director of the al-Hawl camp said that the operation was prompted by increasing attacks on guards, escape attempts, and propaganda of IS ideology among minors.

However, if the latter reason cannot be argued against, as adults are indeed breeding a new generation of jihadists, the other pretexts are questionable. No surge of escape attempts and attacks, especially with the use of firearms, was recorded in the camp. On the contrary, there has been a relative lull in the facility, prompted by rumours of a possible handover of al-Hawl to Syrian authorities.

Observers believe that the weapons could have been planted and the operation itself was carried out to simulate a flurry of activity and demonstrate to the sponsor, the United States, that only Arab and Kurdish forces could effectively counter IS in the region.