The Islamic State Prison Camps in Syria are a Powder Keg

Approximately 50,000 Islamic State members and their families are held in detention camps across northeast Syria, creating a volatile situation ripe for prison breaks. U.S. humanitarian aid cuts and a potential military drawdown are exacerbating the instability, threatening to create a security vacuum. These camps serve as incubators for extremism, coinciding with a resurgence of Islamic State attacks in the region. To prevent a catastrophic prison break that would rejuvenate the group, the international community must improve camp conditions and expedite the repatriation of foreign nationals to their home countries.