Australian teenager in custody of US-backed forces in Syria after prison reclaimed

The Kurdish-led SDF, with US air support, this week regained control of the prison in the north-eastern Syrian city of Hasaka, which had been under attack by Islamic State militants.

Fighters of the US-backed Syria Democratic Forces pose atop vehicles as a convoy drives towards Guweiran prison in Hasaka, north-eastern Syria.

Fighters of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces pose atop vehicles as a convoy drives towards Guweiran prison in Hasaka, north-eastern Syria. Source: EPA

A Syrian prison from where a 17-year-old Australian boy sent voice messages begging for help has been reclaimed from ISIS.

But Save the Children have raised concerns about the boy's safety and wellbeing after speaking with his family.

At least 200 prison inmates and militants and 30 security forces have been killed since Islamic State militants attacked the jail last week in a bid to free their members held there, officials have said.
epaselect epa09710706 Fighters of Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) walk amid damage of Ghwayran prison in Hassakeh, northeastern Syria, 26 January 2022. The US-backed Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) on 26 January announced they had recaptured Ghwayran prison i
Fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces walk amid a damaged Guweiran prison on 26 January, 2022. Source: EPA
The Kurdish-led SDF, with US air support, this week regained control of the prison in the northeastern Syrian city of Hasaka.

The boy is in the custody of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and coalition forces.

Save the Children has called on the Australian government to step in and act before an Australian child dies, saying he hasn't yet received any medical assistance.

In the recorded messages from when he was in the Guweiran prison, the boy said he was bleeding from bullet wounds.

"I just got shot by Apache (helicopter), my head is bleeding, I have injured my head and my hand," he says.

"I need help, we're getting hit from every side from the Kurds, we're getting hit by planes."
Middle Eastern media organisation Al Jazeera reported SDF commandos closed in on the Syrian prison on Wednesday and captured Islamic State fighters.

At least 550 suspected IS fighters surrendered to the US-backed forces as they wrestled back control of the prison, the outlet reported.

The home affairs department said the Australian government does not comment on the circumstances of individuals.

With Reuters.


Share
2 min read
Published 27 January 2022 5:06pm
Updated 16 February 2022 10:16pm
Source: AAP, SBS


Share this with family and friends