Ziad al-Ayesh: Only a Few Steps Remain to Fully Close the Detainees File

Welat TV – Erbil

Brigadier General Ziad al-Ayesh, the presidential envoy tasked with overseeing the implementation of the 29 January agreement between the Syrian government and the SDF, announced that the number of detainees released by Damascus and the SDF has reached approximately 1,500 so far, emphasizing that intensive efforts are underway to fully close this file.

In a statement issued on 11 April 2026, al-Ayesh said: “On Saturday, in the countryside of Hasaka, a new batch of detainees was released, bringing the total number of those freed to around 1,500. Only a few remain, God willing, paving the way for the complete closure of this humanitarian issue.”

He noted that this development comes as part of the implementation of the 29 January agreement and with direct support and oversight from Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Al-Ayesh emphasized that al-Sharaa views this primarily as a humanitarian issue rather than a matter for negotiation.

He added: “In the next phase, the Ministry of Interior will assume full responsibility for prisons currently under the SDF, while the Ministry of Justice will review the cases of all detainees accused of criminal offenses to ensure justice is served in accordance with legal procedures.”

Regarding missing persons, al-Ayesh confirmed that the presidential team continues to coordinate with relevant authorities to determine the fate of all individuals missing from SDF-run prisons.