IS militants attack Kurdish prison in NE Syria

DAMASCUS – The Islamic State on Thursday attacked a Kurdish-run prison in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah in an attempt to free IS inmates, a war monitor reported.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the IS militants blew off the gate of the Sina'a prison in Hasakah with a booby-trapped car and an explosive-laden fuel tanker.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a number of inmates fled the prison in Hasakah while many Kurdish security members were wounded

It said a number of inmates fled the prison while many Kurdish security members were wounded.

The UK-based watchdog group said helicopters with the US-led coalition fired at the vicinity of the prison and dropped light bombs to help the ground troops in their hunt for the escapees.

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IS militants have repeatedly tried to break free from the prison in Hasakah.

A number of IS militants have been imprisoned by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces following the defeat of IS in Hasakah and parts of Deir al-Zour province in eastern Syria.