Iraq calls for closure of al-Hawl camp due to growing numbers of IS supporters inside

Representatives of Iraq stated the need to close the al-Hawl camp, located in the Syrian Hasakah governorate. The reason for that was fears of the revival of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.

This initiative was voiced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq at a conference in Baghdad. He called on states whose citizens are kept in al-Hawl to repatriate them and close the camp, as it serves for IS members’ training. “Addressing the issue of the al-Hawl camp has become Iraq's key national priority,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman.

Earlier, the population of the camp dropped from 73,000 to 51,000 due to the Syrian and Iraqi authorities agreeing to take their residents back. Most are Syrians or Iraqis. Besides, the vast majority of the population of al-Hawl are relatives of IS members, who are considered their ardent supporters.

About 8,000 women and children live in the camp, in a part known as “annex”. In this regard, there are fears that the mothers will train children in terrorist activities. In this way, al-Hawl could become the source of a new generation of IS fighters.