Damascus: The Syrian Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday that approximately 120 ISIS members escaped from al-Shaddadi prison in eastern Syria. The ministry reported that Syrian army units and special forces entered al-Shaddadi following the escape and apprehended 81 of the fugitives after conducting search and sweep operations within and around the city. Efforts are ongoing “to pursue the remaining escapees and take the necessary legal measures against them.”

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Syrian army had previously stated that a number of ISIS militants escaped from a prison controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in al-Shaddadi, accusing the Kurdish forces of releasing them.