The camp, which housed relatives of Daesh fighters in Syria’s eastern desert near the Iraqi border, saw large numbers of detainees flee after security deteriorated when Syrian government forces defeated the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and assumed control of the area last month.
US intelligence agencies estimate that between 15,000 and 20,000 people connected to Daesh are now at large, according to the report.
The Al-Hol facility had long raised concerns among security analysts, who warned it could become a breeding ground for further radicalization, particularly among children growing up in the camp.
For years, the site was guarded by the SDF, which was backed by the United States.
The camp once held more than 70,000 people. By the end of 2025, more than 23,000 individuals remained at the facility, according to a report issued this week by the Pentagon’s Inspector General.
Meanwhile, Western diplomats in Damascus estimated that over 20,000 people left the camp within days amid rioting and escape attempts.
A diplomat monitoring the situation said that 300 to 400 families were still at the camp at the start of the week.
US officials cited in the report attributed the crisis to mismanagement by Syria’s government and insufficient security around the camp’s perimeter.
In response, Syria’s government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, acknowledged that many former detainees had dispersed across other parts of the country.
Officials said they intend to monitor suspected extremists and implement reintegration programs.
The government blamed the SDF for abandoning the camp during a January offensive, claiming that the site was left unguarded for several hours.